The Granville Vance Gun Safety Committee was formed in April 2023. Local government, community-based organizations, and businesses make up the committee. This committee is not yet funded to do all the work they hope to do. Grant funding from the City of Henderson, NC was applied for in May 2023. GVPH should hear back in July if funding is received.

The mission of the committee is threefold:

1. Educate communities on gun safety
2. Identify communities with high incidence and prevalence of gun violence
3. Provide training and technical support to communities that need assistance

Committee Members

• Lisa Harrison – Health Director of Granville Vance Health Department
• Melissa Elliott – Founder of Gang Free Inc.
• Robert Fountain – Sheriff of Granville County
• Marcus Barrow – Chief of Police Henderson North Carolina
• Xavier Wortham – Executive Director at Oxford Housing Authority
• Gaddis Faulcon – Pastor of Agape Worship Center
• Charles Baskerville – Funeral home director
• Gerald McNair – Team Lead Health Promotion and Wellness Supervisor of Granville Vance Public Health
• Beryle Lewis – Health Educator
• Meki Shewangizaw – Consultant for Partners in Health

The Gun Safety Committee was established to keep all residents of Granville and Vance counties safe from gun-related violence and educated on how to safely store firearms.

The Gun Safety Committee has already attended several community events to give out gun locks and brochures on gun safety. With grant funding, they are hoping to target gun safety in schools and provide education to sudents as well as staff, find times for all committee members to regularly meet, and hold trainings for the community. 

No additional funding was found, and this strategy was put on hold in mid-2023. The committee will be reassembled if other funding is sourced.