PRESS RELEASE 

March 27, 2024

The League of Women Voters of Alachua County's Gun Violence Prevention and Safety Committee has been awarded a $9,800 grant to help thwart the rising numbers of gun-related deaths.

Labeling gun violence a public health crisis, county leaders created a $50,000 grant fund in late 2024 and invited non-government grassroots organizations to submit proposals aimed at curbing the issue.

The Gun Violence Prevention and Safety Committee had been studying the issue of gun violence for months. They've brought in experts, dissected the topic and reviewed loads of data.

Following the data, they zeroed in on the fact that suicides by firearms are responsible for more deaths locally than gun-related homicides. The full report is available here.

The project is a community awareness campaign with a goal to prevent firearm suicide and unintentional firearm death and injury by focusing on safe gun storage.

In 2023, there were 40 firearm-related deaths in Alachua County. About 75% of the deaths were suicides, 21% were homicides. The trend has been steadily upward: In 2019, there were 13 suicide deaths in the county, compared with 30 in 2023.

The plan calls for using the money to buy gun locks and palm cards the League can give away during public events and tabling sessions. Some of the money may also go toward public events to raise awareness about suicide, such as warning signs.The primary message is that to prevent suicide death and accidental injury, gun owners must store firearms safely. The League will likely sponsor presentations and create public service announcements about safe gun storage.

LWVAC Vice President Gwendolyn Saffo chairs the Gun Violence Prevention and Safety committee; LWVAC Secretary Diane Dimperio wrote the grant proposal.