Honoring the Life of Teen Lost to Social Media Scam

Honoring the Life of Teen Lost to Social Media Scam

Earlier this month, I announced my package of legislative solutions to make Mississippi safer for everyone.

My agenda includes proposals to hold hackers accountable for stealing sensitive information, increase penalties for gang violence, and streamline the legal process to ensure swift justice for crime victims. Additionally, I have requested the state legislature create a criminal cause of action for sextortion to honor the life of Walker Montgomery, a Mississippi teen who lost his life to suicide after falling victim to a sextortion scam on social media.

After I met with Walker’s family last year, my office identified a gap in the criminal code that allows these predators to evade prosecution. I am grateful for the Montgomery family’s courage and resolve to share their story with the hope that no family has to experience the tragedy and loss they suffered, and I hope Mississippi legislators will join me in honoring Walker’s legacy by adopting legislation to hold these predators accountable.

In addition to pursuing legislative solutions, I have launched #BeAwareBeforeYouShare, a campaign inspired by Walker Montgomery to raise awareness of social media’s dangerous impact on children and teens, advocate for change, and provide families with the tools and resources to help protect their children. Watch Walker’s dad share his story and download guides to internet safety at AttorneyGeneralLynnFitch.com/BeAware.

Expanding One Pill Can Kill

Earlier this week, Mississippi State became our latest One Pill Can Kill partner. As one of our largest universities, Mississippi State’s involvement in One Pill Can Kill is crucial to combatting the fentanyl crisis. By raising awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and equipping students with the knowledge and tools to stop an overdose, I am confident lives will be saved.

As part of the partnership, the Attorney General’s Office delivered 1,000 Fentanyl Harm Prevention Kits for MSU students and provided a training on how to properly use the fentanyl test strips. Since launching the initiative, we have welcomed similar partnerships with the University of Mississippi, University of Southern Mississippi, and Alcorn State University. I am grateful for all our partners who are working together to end this deadly epidemic.

Learn more about One Pill Can Kill at AttorneyGeneralLynnFitch.com/OnePill or request a Fentanyl Harm Prevention Kit by email at onepill@ago.ms.gov.

Empowering Women and Promoting Strong Mississippi Families

Thanks to the Legislature’s support of The Empowerment Project last year, we have helped thousands of families find the resources they need to support their families, extended healthcare coverage for new mothers, assisted families who lovingly offer forever homes to a child in need, and offered tax relief to make childcare more affordable. Mississippi has made a meaningful impact in a short time and has inspired other states to follow our example. But as I said before, this is just the beginning.

This year, I am asking the Legislature pass additional Empowerment Project initiatives, including enhancing child support enforcement by requiring past-due child support be collected from gaming winnings and promoting workplace flexibility by enacting paid maternity leave for state employees and creating a state tax credit for employers who provide paid leave for employees for pregnancy, childbirth, adoption, and foster placement. In addition, I am working with Child Protection Services to implement the legislative recommendations of the Legislature’s Task Force on Foster Care and Adoption to help children get to their forever homes faster.

Learn more about The Empowerment Project at AttorneyGeneralLynnFitch.com/TheEmpowermentProject.