Stopping violence with keychains: Reminding Tallahasseeans to lock their guns in cars
After a violent start to the new year, the Tallahassee Urban League is seeking to blunt a deadly trend in the capital city and county: Relentless violence, in part springing from guns being stolen from unlocked cars.
The nonprofit group, joined by local law enforcement and other city and county leaders, are hoping new keychains with a mindful message will be the beginning of the end of what they say is an terrible epidemic.
The Urban League partnered with the Tallahassee Ford dealership to create keychains with a simple message for gun owners: "Remember to lock your cars."
So far in 2024, 24 guns have been stolen and 18 — or 75% of them — came from an unlocked car, Tallahassee Police Deputy Chief Maurice Holmes said during a Tuesday morning press conference.
Added Leon County Commissioner Bill Proctor: "I believe that there's nothing greater in Tallahassee and in America than the fears that have been generated . . . when guns end up in the hands of wayward minds."
Proctor was one of many officials to attend the campaign's launch including Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey, City Commissioner Curtis Richardson, County Commissioner Carolyn Cummings, Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell and Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeill.
"Let's talk common sense, folks," Dailey said. "Would you leave your purse in the car unlocked overnight, or your wallet, or leave your computer in the car? Would you leave any of your valuables in the cars at night unlocked? No. So why are we leaving firearms in the car overnight?"
Law enforcement can't do this alone, Revell said. "It takes the community saying, 'OK, we know this but enough is enough and we're not going to do this anymore,' " he said.
Information on the cost of the PR campaign, who paid and how many keychains were produced was not immediately available. The keychains will be given to Tallahassee Ford customers.
Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X @elenabarreraaa.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Battling violence, stolen guns with keychains as reminders to lock up
