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Mission Statement:
Provide guitars and lessons to foster kids, at risk youth and other deserving children in a classroom setting with qualified teachers. No child is turned away for lack of funds.
HOW IT STARTED: The founders of Guitars not Guns are Ray and Louise Nelson. They became foster parents in 1992 and it was through their experience with foster kids that Ray decided to provide foster kids,that had the desire, with guitars and lessons.. He began asking people for their used guitars to pass along to foster kids.
Goal: Help stop violence in schools and on the streets by providing a music program for at risk teens and other deserving children. We want to divert as many children as possible from the self-destructive behaviors of drugs, alcohol, crime connected to gang activity. By providing children and teens with guitars and lessons. we hope to engage their creative potential. It's all about helping underpriveleged kids and teens.
On June 27, 2000 "Guitars not Guns" became a federally exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations are tax deductible.
June 2002 Guitars not Guns started it's first guitar class with two volunteer teachers in San Jose, CA . Guitars and lessons are now available in several locations. (Locations)
Ray and Louise Nelson |
Thank you Volunteers.
GnG has served over 1000 kids and teens in the USA & Canada |
| What We Do.
1- EMPOWER CHILDREN - - - 5- BUILD SELF ESTEEM
2 - PROVIDE GUITARS - - - - 6- PROVIDE LESSONS
3 - PROVIDE TEACHERS - - - - 7 - PROVIDE CLASSROOM
4 - PROVIDE BOOKS - - - - - - 8 - TEACH CONFIDENCE |
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Ray Nelson
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Founders Corner
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Last update 8-1-2008
Guitars not Guns Music Program.
Macon Georgia: We are getting close to opening a new chapter in Macon, GA. If you live in the Macon area please contact Greg Potter. gamuleman@aol.com
NEW ORLEANS: Several more Boy's & Girl's Clubs are finally open and we look forward to starting classes in other locations soon. . more
Ocean Springs Mississippi: We helped raise funds to rebuild Boy's & Girl's Club. It was an all day music event that was well covered by the media. Rockin Radio http://www.myspace.com/z95fm, Newspaper and Television. more
Florida: Thanks to everyone including the Mayor for helping make our first event very successful. The media was there with radio, newspaper and television. Honky Tonk News. Thanks to all the bands that volunteerd to help. GnG Florida.
Help organize events in your area. How to volunteer? (click here)
If you are just learning about our organization and are looking for something to do that would make you proud, I would like to invite you to become a member of the "Guitars not Guns Music Program". Call me 770-487-8007 . Let's talk.
It's OK with me if you own a gun.
Best Wishes,
Ray Nelson . Founder
Remember:
Moses Lake, Washington 2/2/96
Bethel, Alaska 2/19/97
Pearl, Mississippi 10/1/97
West Paducah, Kentucky 12/1/97
Stamp, Arkansas 12/15/97
Jonesboro, Arkansas 3/24/98
Edinboro, Pennsylvania 4/24/98
Fayetteville, Tennessee 5/19/98
Springfield, Oregon 5/21/98
Richmond, Virginia 6/15/98
Littleton, Colorado 4/20/99
Taber, Alberta, Canada 5/28/99
Conyers, Georgia 5/20/99
Deming, New Mexico 11/19/99
Fort Gibson, Oklahoma 12/6/99
Santee, California 3/ 5/01 and
El Cajon, California 3/22/01?
Student Fires Assault Rifle in Missouri Middle School
JOPLIN, Mo. - Fascinated by the Columbine bloodbath, a 13-year-old boy in a dark green trench coat and mask carried an assault rifle into his school Monday, pointed it at students and fired a shot into a ceiling before the weapon jammed, authorities said. No one was hurt. "Please don't make me do this," he was quoted as telling administrators before police arrested him and thwarted what they called a "well thought-out plan" to terrorize his school.
Police said a note in the student's backpack indicated he had planted an explosive in the school, but no bombs were found.
Lt. Geoff Jones said the boy's motives were unclear. School officials said the student had no major disciplinary problems.
The seventh-grader, whose name was not immediately released, pointed the gun at two students inside Joplin Memorial Middle School but was confronted by an administrator who tried to talk him into putting the gun down, Jones said.
The boy refused and fired a shot into the ceiling of an entryway, police said. He tried to continue firing but the rifle jammed, according to Jones. The student then left the building.
Officers arrested the teen behind a nearby building. Police described his weapon as a Mac-90, a replica of an AK-47 assault rifle.
Superintendent Jim Simpson said police told him the boy had a fascination with the Columbine High shooting that left 15 people dead near Littleton, Colo., in 1999.
"It was a very close call ," Simpson said.
The student was wearing a trench coat - like the student gunmen at Columbine - and had a T-shirt over his head with eye holes cut out, Farmer said.
Farmer said that along with note indicating an explosive was placed in the school, the boy's backpack held military manuals, instructions on assembling an improvised explosive device and detailed drawings of the school.
"This was quite well thought-out," Farmer said. "He had been planning this for a long time."
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