We are writing to express concerns over the billboards that have been erected in Jackson, Tennessee in the past month.

The billboards in question feature a new slogan that reads “GIVE IT UP” with the “P” shaped as a gun. We have two major concerns with this:

First of all, we question whether these billboards are effective at all in stopping gun violence.

And secondly, these billboards send a message to anyone outside our community who is considering a move here that Jackson is a dangerous place. We believe that this kind of imagery could scare off people who are considering moving to Jackson. Blue Oval City, for example, is opening up just a short distance from Jackson, and we are in direct competition with other cities and communities in the Blue Oval impact zone. What message does this billboard send to individuals who are thinking of calling Jackson home? Who would this billboard deter from moving here?

We urge the City of Jackson and the Jackson Police Department to take action to have these billboards removed, and to reconsider the kinds of messages that are being promoted in our community. We should be working towards creating a culture of respect and safety, and this billboard does nothing to further those goals.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.