Gun violence in Vicksburg is hitting too close to home, and as someone who loves this city, it’s time to speak out.

I was getting ready for bed Sunday night after rocking my baby to sleep when the sound of approximately a dozen gunshots rang out through the formerly peaceful Fostoria neighborhood. My fingers fumbled over the keypad on my phone as I called 911. It was the second time I’ve had to call emergency services due to nearby gunshots in a month, and I can’t say rattling off information to the operator gets easier over time.

To its credit, the Vicksburg Police Department arrived within minutes and conducted a thorough investigation. But it’s a routine I shouldn’t have to fall into in a city that’s supposedly safe.

I’ve been told, by people with much greater authority than me, that gun violence in Vicksburg is not serious because it’s usually targeted and not random. I printed quotes saying as much while on staff at The Vicksburg Post, and other outlets have been fed the same line.

It may be true, for now, that Vicksburgers can go to the grocery store without worrying if someone will open fire. However, the notion that targeted hits are less dangerous than random shootings is absurd.

When I’m at home with my family, tucking my children into their beds, and hear gunshots, it’s little comfort to think, “The shooting is not targeted at me so I’m not going to worry about it.”

No. As a responsible gun owner and someone who is well-versed in firearm safety, my first thought is the person shooting is aiming to kill. And if they’re not aiming, they very well could kill someone nearby anyway.

My neighborhood is home primarily to retirees and families with small children. In the immediate vicinity, there have been three shootings in the last five weeks: one on Letitia Street on Aug. 20, and the two incidents Sunday night on Speed Street and in Marcus Bottom.

I shudder to think what would happen if one of these rogue bullets found its way into my home, or if one of my children was harmed as a result.

My husband and I moved to Vicksburg out of a love for this city — chose to plant roots here in the hope that it would grow and improve and thrive. In many ways, it has, but crime continues to be a stain upon the River City.

The notion that targeted gun violence is less detrimental to a community than randomized gun violence is borne from a lack of understanding of the dangers posed by a firearm in the wrong hands. If one views a gun as what it is — a deadly weapon — instead of a means to settle a petty dispute, then it wouldn’t matter if a shooting was targeted or not.

Fostoria is a Vicksburg gem. It is the most architecturally diverse neighborhood in the city. People from across the globe visit to marvel at its beauty. There is even a riverboat excursion that stops on Drummond Street.

And let’s not forget Porchfest, which brings thousands of dollars in revenue and tourism to Vicksburg every year.

I love my neighborhood fiercely. I want to believe it is a good place for my family. But sadly, I and others no longer feel safe here.

With every shot fired, the question looms: How long will it be before I’m the target?

It’s up to our city leaders to take a stance against targeted gun violence. At the very least, consider it protecting an asset. At most, consider it safeguarding Vicksburg’s people and its future.

Sincerely,

Anna Guizerix

Vicksburg, Miss.