LWVAC Gun Violence Prevention and Safety Committee Plan for 2025-2027

The Committee will collaborate with community and statewide groups to engage in activities and initiatives to reduce all forms of gun violence. The LWVAC Committee will focus on preventing firearm suicides, unintentional injuries, and deaths.

Monitoring

• Monitor data from FloridaCHARTS on gun violence and annually update data in LWVAC report on firearm deaths and injuries

• Encourage ASO and GPD to develop a consistent reporting format for firearm deaths, injuries, and shooting incidents and update at least bi-annually

• Support Initiation of a public health study of firearm suicides and unintended deaths and injuries among Alachua County residents to determine accurate numbers and identify any additional characteristics that may help in targeting prevention efforts

• Seek other sources of data to better identify Alachua County residents who are at risk for firearm suicide and unintended death and injury

Policy and Law Making

• Collaborate with local gun safety, suicide prevention organizations, and policymakers to develop and advocate for gun control policies at the local level

• Collaborate with statewide organizations to actively engage in supporting any state legislation strengthening and, opposing any weakening, of current gun laws at the state level Encourage the adoption of policies and programs to decrease street violence

• Support efforts of law enforcement, local policymakers, and community partners to develop and implement strategies and programs to decrease street violence

Develop a community awareness campaign to reduce firearm suicide and unintentional death and injuries

Engage community partners in a campaign to educate the public on preventing firearm suicide and unintentional death and injury. The campaign will include activities including but not limited to:

• Development of a short (5-10-minute) presentation on preventing firearm suicide and unintentional injury/death

• Developing educational materials such as palm cards that include risk factors and prevention strategies

• Develop a social media component of the campaign

• Collect videos of case histories and PSAs related to firearm suicides and unintentional injuries and deaths to assemble into a montage for use at tabling and other events

• Purchase and distribute marketing materials like buttons and stickers

• Table at events, especially those attracting gun owners

• Collaborate with other gun violence prevention groups to plan and sponsor community events focusing on gun violence prevention

• Presentations at community meetings, especially those that include family and friends of those who may be at risk for firearm suicide and unintentional death and injury

• Outreach to firearm vendors, shooting ranges, and other locations to offer educational resources

• Offer to submit, and encourage local publications to include, articles on gun violence, especially suicide and unintentional death and injury

• Post an article on LWVAC social media on gun violence prevention

• Obtain and distribute gun locks at tabling and other events