THOMASVILLE — Terry Scott said the community must take control of violence.

Research is required to end the undesirable activity involving firearms and other forms of violence, said Scott, a Thomasville City Council member.

Scott will conduct a community event at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 21, at the Thomasville Center for the Arts, 600 E. Washington St.

He said the event and his purpose are not political. 

“This is something that needs to be looked at,” Scott said. “It is dear to my heart.”

Scott, Worldwide Ministries of Christ Church pastor, said he receives calls from residents concerned about crime in the city. Primarily, he said, residents are concerned about incidents involving firearms.

Seven or eight shootings have taken place in Thomasville in the past 18 months, resulting in three deaths.

“These are isolated incidents,” he said. “”Thomasville police are doing an excellent job.”

He said gun violence is the second leading cause of death among people ages one to 24 in the United states.

“People want to know what city leaders are going to do,” Scott said.

The theme of Scott’s violence-awareness push is “Think Before You React.”

“There’s consequences behind your reaction,” he said. “Families grieve because that one person did not think.”

Scott’s wife, Veronica, is joining him in the project. Scott will ask Thomasville Police Department and state and federal law enforcement agencies to have representatives at the Center for the Arts event.

He hopes to have victims attend to speak and will ask school principals to encourage students to attend.

Scott said the March 21 event will be the first in a series of “Think Before You Act” meetings. 

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820