In Tampa, Florida, recent national research reveals that 6% of Florida teenagers possess firearms. Advocates for preventing gun violence in Hillsborough County have noted a local uptick in these figures.
âIt seems the message about our collective duty to prevent this issue hasnât fully resonated. Observing these statistics is disheartening and sometimes makes us question the impact of our efforts. Yet, we remain committed,â expressed Freddy Barton, the executive director of Safe and Sound Hillsborough.
This organization is active in a youth gun violence prevention program. Barton mentioned that the findings from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) study are indeed alarming.
AAP looked at trends of carrying handguns among Florida adolescents from 2002-2022. They found handgun carrying in school decreased, and middle school students contributed substantially to the increase in general handgun carrying.
âWeâre having conversations with middle school students and even driving down to elementary school students encouraging them that if they see a gun, run and tell someone,â Barton said. âTo have kids say, âLook, I feel like I needed to have this firearm because Iâm scared. I know that this person doesnât like me, and I feel like they have a gun, so I need to go get one.â Weâve got to get the message out to these kids that look, thereâs always another way.â
Johnny Johnsonâs son Jayquon would be turning 26 on Tuesday, had it not been for a shooting that ended his life when he was just a sophomore in high school.
âI see him being a bright star. He had a big heart, I see him helping,â Johnson said.
Itâs been eight years and Johnson said it still feels like yesterday. Johnson argues the issues to gun violence havenât been solved.
âWe showing bombs dropping on people in other countries, but we donât want to talk about the tragedy here,â Johnson said.
Barton said more than 80% of firearms recovered from juvenile offenders are coming from unlocked cars.
âJust here in Hillsborough County, weâve had, last year in 2024, we had 60 kids that were first time offenders in our program. Weâre not even through the month of July and weâre already above that number,â Barton said. âTake the politics out of this, right. Itâs not about the right to carry, itâs not about guns, itâs not about ammunition, itâs about the decisions that these kids are making to pick up a firearm in response to something that probably wonât even matter five years from now.â
Johnson is urging kids to brainstorm for solutions that donât include violence.
âWhat would your loved one say if you didnât show up home tonight? What would you think they would be going through? How would you think theyâd be feeling? And give that moment a thought before you pick up a gun,â Johnson said.
On July 13, Safe and Sound Hillsborough will be celebrating youth who have successfully completed the Youth Gun Offender Program. Learn more, here.
