WRAL Documentary: UnSafe: North Carolina kids dying from gun violence
Gun violence kills more young people in the U.S. than any other cause. The WRAL Documentary Unit set out to uncover why kids in North Carolina are 51% more likely to die from gun violence compared to children in the United States as a whole, according to statistics from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.
In UnSafe: North Carolina Kids Dying from Gun Violence, WRAL Investigative Documentary Reporter Cristin Severance and Documentary Photojournalist Dwayne Myers shed light on the devastating impacts of gun violence through the deeply personal story of one family’s loss. The tragic death of 8-year-old Jenesis Dockery, who died four days shy of her 9th birthday after getting shot by her babysitter’s 11 year-old-son, shows just how many lives are destroyed by gun violence.
UnSafe will also explore a proven solution to stopping these types of tragedies with bi-partisan support among lawmakers and North Carolinians in general. “Not one expert or victim in our documentary wants to take people’s guns away. They simply want people to keep the guns they have safely stored,” said Severance.
There are 1.7 million homes in our state with guns and at least 50% of those homes have guns that aren’t safely stored. UnSafe shows what can happen if these numbers don’t change.
UnSafe: North Carolina kids dying from gun violence debuted on WRAL-TV March 13, 2024.
Encore presentations air on FOX 50 (WRAZ) on Saturday, March 16, at 1 p.m, and on WILM-TV on Saturday, March 16, at 6 p.m.
The documentary is also available everywhere you stream WRAL.
Gun safety resources
Learn about how to store your firearms safely at home and on the go, how to talk to your children about gun safety and how to make sure that schools and playdates are a safe environment from NC S.A.F.E.
Download a free gun safety kit or request a free gun lock from Project Child Safe.
The Durham County Gun Safety Program also offers outreach events, best safety practices and free gun locks on request.
