Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bexar County launches "Bear responsibly" gun-safety campaign; court approves phase 2 outreach
Summary
Court directed staff to negotiate a phase‑2 contract with Texas Creative (TXC Creative/Texas Creative LLC) to expand countywide gun-safety education, using survey research and community partners to target gun owners with safe-storage messaging.
Bexar County Commissioners Court unanimously approved May 27 a staff direction to negotiate a contract amendment with Texas Creative to fund phase 2 of a countywide gun-safety awareness and education campaign branded “Bear responsibly.”
The Public Information Office and community partners presented research and creative work that the county says will target gun owners across precincts with nonpolarizing safety messages focused on safe storage, preventing accidental shootings and reducing suicide risk. The court’s action directs staff to negotiate an extension through Sept. 30, 2026, at no additional cost under the current contract terms and to expand outreach using community-based partners.
Monica Ramos, Bexar County public information officer, introduced the project and invited partners from law enforcement, public health and community nonprofits. Ashley Landers of Texas Creative presented the campaign research and proposed messaging. Landers summarized findings from a mixed-methods research effort that included a statistically relevant countywide survey and community-based partner input. Among findings Landers cited: about half of surveyed adults reported owning a gun, many owners cited protection as the primary motivation for ownership, and a majority said they support increased access to gun training and safe storage that would not violate the Second Amendment.
“We start our questions focusing on what worries residents the most,” Landers said. “For adults with children … gun incidents worry them more than anything else tested.” She described the campaign’s organizing idea—“Bear responsibly”—and sample assets that include a short URL (bearresponsibly.org), a 30‑second public-service announcement, and English and Spanish creative focused on locked storage and asking household visitors about firearms.
The plan relies on 20 local community-based partners to help shape messaging and deliver outreach; county staff said at least a dozen partner reports were already received and that phase 2 would scale the messaging and add training and safe-storage events. Commissioners praised the branding and the community coalition. Commissioner Justin Rodriguez moved to authorize staff to negotiate the contract amendment; the motion passed unanimously.
