Tallahassee Urban League requests county partnership after local gun‑safety campaign reduces stolen-gun incidents
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Summary
Curtis Taylor of the Tallahassee Urban League described a multi-year gun‑violence prevention campaign that includes police forums, free gun locks, billboards and signs and reported a 36% reduction in guns stolen from unlocked cars; he asked the county to support expansion of the effort.
Curtis Taylor, president and CEO of the Tallahassee Urban League, told the Leon County commission that the Urban League—s gun‑violence prevention campaign has reduced guns stolen from unlocked cars by 36 percent and asked the county to partner to expand the program into unincorporated areas.
Taylor described the program—s components: police forums that bring youth, citizens and law‑enforcement together; public education via billboards, yard signs, door magnets and social media; community town halls; and distribution of free gun locks. He said the campaign was prompted by police reports documenting stolen firearms taken from unlocked vehicles and noted a case in which a stolen gun from Tallahassee was later used in a fatal shooting in Miami.
———Taylor said the campaign led to measurable results in the city and asked the board to work with the county to bring similar outreach to unincorporated neighborhoods. His remarks emphasized simple prevention measures (locking vehicles, safe gun storage) and partnerships with law enforcement and community groups.
Chair Brian Welch thanked Taylor and commissioners voiced support for the initiative; no formal action was taken during the meeting.