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Sheriff's Office and Local Nonprofit Team Together to Promote Gun Safety
Friday, May 11, 2007 Jacksonville, Fla.
Jacksonville, FL. May 7, 2007 – The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida (BGCNF) have teamed together to promote gun safety to three local elementary schools in Jacksonville. On hand at the recent visits were representatives from both the Sheriff's Office and BGCNF. Students engaged in interactive conversations with officers as they were discussing safety procedures regarding strangers and guns. Students at both locations received a folder that contained the gun pledge, a pencil and a ruler. Both the pencil and ruler contained the wording "I Took The Pledge." The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and BGCNF are hoping to expand the program to all schools next year. Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida (BGCNF) is a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and has played an integral role in Jacksonville for 45 years. BGCNF provides daily after-school programs to nearly 1,100 young people daily at 11 facilities in Duval, Nassau, and St. Johns County. According to the U.S. Department of Education and Justice, students who attend quality after-school programs demonstrate better academic performance, more positive behavior and better school attendance than those who do not. They also develop greater expectations for the future. Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida offers time-tested and nationally recognized programs and activities in five distinct areas: character and leadership, education and careers, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation. For more information about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida please visit www.bgcnf.org or ###
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Sheriff John Rutherford was on hand for the visit to West Jacksonville, and assisted the students as they took a pledge to never bring a gun to school and to never use a gun to settle an argument. On hand to assist the Sheriff was McGruff the Crime Dog.