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Public Service Announcement

LOCK IT UP!

PROGRAM SAVES LIVES

Save a Life, Lock Up Your Gun!

By: Barbara Markley

he Broward League of Women Voters is proud of their churches, synagogues, mosques, etc. The League has
life-saving “Lock it Up!” program, a county-wide, non- partnered with a total of 210 organizations and local
T partisan, public safety campaign to raise awareness governments, including Moms Demand Action for Gun
of the dangers of unlocked guns around children and teens Sense in America to use with their “BeSmart” program, as
and to encourage gun owners to lock up their guns. In the well the Brady Campaign to use with their “End Family
Fire” campaign. Additional partners include BSO and
U.S., 4.6 million children live in homes with unsecured
many local police departments and city commissions. In a
guns. Over 75% of teens who commit suicide with a gun
little over a year, the League has distributed 13,250 gun
use a gun from home, and a child is shot every 17 hours on
locks, 27,000 gun safety brochures and spoken to over
average in Florida. In addition, a gun is stolen every 26
6,000 people about gun safety.
minutes and most of those guns are used to commit crimes.
Florida is 3rd in the nation for gun theft, so locking up guns This award-winning program was featured on WLRN at:
www.wlrn.org/post/surprising-allies-address-outsize-role-guns-
would save lives and reduce crime significantly. Like
play-deaths-soldiers-and-kids, in the Broward New Times:
MADD’s “Don’t Drink and Drive” campaign, this program
www.browardpalmbeach.com/news/broward-doctors-and-
aims to change the narrative and make everyone feel
nonprofits-launch-lock-it-up-campaign-as-nra-tells-medical-
responsible for gun safety in their community.
professionals-to-stay-in-your-lane-10100221 and recognized
The goal is to place brochures and free gun locks in all in the Congressional record. Broward County is the model for
pediatricians' offices, as well as in schools, pre- the program which will be expanded statewide through
schools, government facilities, parks, the Florida League of Women Voters. RV
police stations, mental
Check out the “Lock it Up!” PSA at:
health providers,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N450qj
RESBo&feature=youtu.be
If you would like more information about this
program, please email
gunsafety@lwvbroward.org or
call 954-546-4484.

Protect Children. Prevent Suicide.
Reduce Crime.
Barbara Markley
Co-Chair, Gun Safety Committee
League of Women Voters of Broward
(954) 609-7928

32 rio vista civic association • www.riovistaonline.com