JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With a little more than a week left in the year, News4JAX has learned that at least 30 children have been shot in Jacksonville so far this year, and 11 of those children have died.
It’s part of the reason behind a new push between the city and sheriff’s office to get gun owners to secure their weapons.
This year in Jacksonville a 6-year-old died after their sibling accidentally shot and killed them. In separate incidents, and 8-year-old and a 9-year-old were shot and survived.
They’re among at least 30 juveniles shot across the city in 2023.
“One incident or one bad, terrible, horrible incident freak accident with a firearm is too many. So, we want to make sure that we can get that message across,” Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said.
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Waters and Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan are teaming up on the new campaign.
“Proper gun storage is fundamental to safe, responsible gun ownership,” Mayor Donna Deegan said in a video on X promoting the campaign.
This is a Public Service Announcement from @jsosheriff and @DonnaDeegan on the safety of gun storage. Please outfit your home, vehicle(s), or other spaces with appropriate gun storage devices. #lockitup #gunsafety #preventable #unknowndangers #yourJSO #SaveALife… pic.twitter.com/QWYNTHldlo
— Jax Sheriff's Office (@JSOPIO) December 20, 2023
After analyzing data, News4JAX found that Jacksonville has 2,314 reported firearms stolen.
Hundreds of unsecured guns were stolen from homes, but the majority are from cars. These are called crime guns — criminals buy and sell them and often use them in violent crimes like robberies and murders.
The sheriff said many people keep their guns under their seats, in their center console or in the glove box. That’s a problem when they leave and makes it easy for thieves to steal them.
Waters also shared a message to parents who are lawful gun owners.
“Take them with you. Carry them with you at times when you when you’re going places, and don’t leave them it’s unsecured in your house with your kids,” Waters said.
JSO is now giving out cable locks free at its six substations for anyone who wants to secure their firearm.
Here are the substations’ locations:
- District 1 Substation (Brooklyn / Downtown / Eastside / San Marco / Springfield): Gateway Town Center, 5258-13 Norwood Avenue
- District 2 Substation (Arlington / Intracoastal West): Merrill Crossing, 9119 Merrill Road
- District 3 Substation (Mandarin / Southside): Located off of Prominence Parkway, 8875 Liberty Ridge Drive, Suite 110
- District 4 Substation (Avondale / Ortega / Westside): Cedar Hills Shopping Center, 3726 Blanding Boulevard
- District 5 Substation (Baldwin / New Town / Northwest / New Town / Riverside): Edward Waters University, 1767 Kings Road
- District 6 Substation (Northside / San Mateo / Oceanway): Rutgers Plaza, 1680 Dunn Avenue, Suite 39
“If you have it with you, you don’t have to have a locking mechanism on it. If it’s in a room with you, and when you’re in your house, it doesn’t have to be locked, we just ask that. If you leave that room, if you leave the house, just lock it if you don’t take it with you,” Waters said.
If you’re going to leave it, lock it — it could save lives.