Durham Gun Safety Team Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary

Mission Statement: “To reduce death/injury related to firearms though broad based and preventative strategies to promote a safe (violent free) environment for our children”

The Durham County Gun Safety Team (DCGST) will celebrate its 10th year anniversary this year and would like to hear from you about how gun violence in the community or home has affected your life or the life of someone you know.

Purpose of the project:Gun violence affects every member of the community whether directly or indirectly. This exhibit would demonstrate the impact that gun violence has in on our community as told by Durham residents themselves, in a effort to bring to light that this is an issue for everyone, not a select few.

Below are some examples:• Accidental –child finding a gun in the home (whether it resulted in the firing of the gun or not), firing of a gun that was loaded and unlocked, mistaking a real gun for a toy gun, hunting
• Intentional- homicide, suicide, domestic violence
• Victims-loss of a family member/friend to an incident involving a gun
• Family member/friend incarcerated because of a violent act involving a firearm
• Professionals-Law enforcement, healthcare workers, social workers and others who may provided services for someone who was a victim of gun violence
• School employees-guns found on campus, loss of a student
• Businesses-impact directly or indirectly on your business

For more information on DCGST click here

About the community project:The DCGST has decided to acknowledge their 10 year presences in the community by creating an indoor/outdoor, multiple, free standing banner display containing real life stories/photos (if desired) from Durham residents.

Banners will be displayed at Durham County libraries, community centers, sporting events, Duke campus/Hospital, and faith based institutions within Durham. Stories will be selected by a subcommittee and participants will be notified of their acceptance by August 15th. In order to participate selected applicants will be required to complete the “general information/permission” form.

(Since we will be unable to select all stories, those not chosen will be deleted from our files.)

For more information regarding the DCGST or this project please contact Joanie Ross at (919) 560-7765 or jross@ph.co.durham.nc.us

To submit your story or photo click here