BEXAR COUNTY, Texas — Bexar County Commissioners have passed the proposal of nonprofits receiving grants in an agreement to address gun safety on Tuesday.
This is part of their ongoing effort to reduce access to firearms by children in the community.
It was designed by local marketing agency Texas Creative, and explains a three-pronged approach on how education and awareness should continue.
This is an effort that started back in June of 2022 when federal funds were allocated for different measures.
Some money went to education on safe gun ownership while the rest went to purchase gun locks and safety devices. The county worked with the sheriff’s office to give those out for free in hopes of reducing gun violence.
Monica Ramos works for the county – as she made her presentation she thought of her two kids. Pushing the importance of gun safety.
“As a mother who has small children in the house, the idea of having a gun in the house that’s accessible in the house is just… I can’t even begin to imagine,” Ramos said.
Monica Ramos is a mom of two and public information officer at the office of the Bexar county manager.
“As a mother of an 8-year-old boy, I know that kids are just naturally curious,” Ramos said.
Ramos is one of many advocating for phase two of gun safety preventative measures – calling for nonprofits to join her mission of reducing access to firearms by children.
“Through what we’re proposing today is to give all of them mini grants so they can continue to do the good work that they’re doing,” Ramos said.
Last summer - the first phase consisted of handing out gun safes and gun locks. But just this weekend, her mission hit close to home.
“My car was broken into by teenagers looking for firearms,” Ramos said.
She says she won’t let the incident discourage her.
“If anything, that’s fuel in my passion," Ramos said. "It’s getting me more energized about this program and everything we’re going to do with this.”
With a similar mission in mind. Bennie Price is the CEO of nonprofit ‘Big Mama’s Safe House’ and also the program director for community violence interruption.
“We address the high-risk shooters in communities,” Price said. “[We] provide resources so if they need jobs, if they need housing, those kinds of things to get them on the right path.”
He feels fostering relationships with the community is the first step when it comes to gun violence prevention.
“We’re hoping that the court will give us a look and see that it’s just as important as every other aspect and organizations that are reducing the gun violence in our communities,” Price said.
The proposal passed earlier today in a three to two vote.
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