Memorial vigil to honor survivors of gun violence
Press release from Alachua County
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In recognition of Gun Violence Awareness Month, Alachua County Community Support Services, in partnership with Gainesville Fire Rescue, will host a community remembrance vigil to honor those whose lives have been impacted by gun violence.
The vigil will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2025, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Squirrel Ridge Park (1603 SW Williston Road, Gainesville).
This event will provide a space for collective reflection, remembrance, and healing, while offering hope and support to survivors and their families. Community members are invited to participate in a meaningful morning of remembrance, connection, and inspiration.
A special feature of the vigil will be the creation of art stones—personalized tokens of remembrance. Attendees can write messages of hope, healing, or tribute to be placed in the park’s memorial garden, creating a lasting symbol of community solidarity and compassion.
In addition to remembrance activities, the event will highlight local resources and support services available to those impacted by gun violence.
“We hope this vigil serves as a space for our community to mourn, reflect, and, most importantly, instill hope,” said Project Coordinator Cassandra Moore. “Together, we will honor the lives affected by gun violence, share in the healing process, and reaffirm our commitment to change.”
It is sad that the Democrats running Alachua County and Gainesville insist on blaming guns for the criminal actions of the users of a gun in commission of a crime. This IS NOT “gun violence”.
They don’t blame the vehicle when its driver causes an injury or death. They don’t blame a knife, machete or other deadly item for the actions of a criminal. Well, locally they do hate cars, but…
What is worse, these liberals of the left refuse to even properly enforce the laws currently in force regarding crimes involving the guns they claim are so bad.
The US leads the developed world in gun ownership, number of guns, incarcerations, and gun deaths and it is the leading cause of death for our kids.
The Rest, is it your opinion that these facts are not to be considered in addressing our unique problem?
Nope, it does not “lead the developed world” in gun violence, Mexico does. Here’s the current list and consider also the populations of these countries.
Mexico 22,355 17.2 12.68%
United States 15,186 4.42 16.61%
Ecuador 7,108 39.5 0.34%
Honduras 2,464 23.1 0.88%
Jamaica 1,189 42 0.25%
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/gun-deaths-by-country
Your list of “developed counties” puts us in group I doubt any of us aspire to, but hey, thanks for at least providing data.
By the way, you never answered my question about who you were – after I answered yours – or why you call yourself the name of a sexual aid in a gay novel. I don’t really care, but you did about me and “turn about is fair play..”
Jazzy, what is the leading form of homicide in America? Suicide. The majority of gun deaths in America are suicides, NOT murder. FACT, not opinion. The majority of murders and suicides are committed with handguns, not AR15s, but you and your liberal friends want to abolish AR15s. There are reportedly 10 MILLION AR15s in the hands of private citizens but they are used in miniscule number of murders nationwide. Your kind need to stop blaming inanimate objects for the acts of humans. And another fact you blatantly got wrong…gun deaths are NOT the leading cause of death for our kids. Abortion is.
Facts, so you’re in favor of providing more suicide tools to the mentally ill, who’s death leaves the nastiest of finds and cleanups by their loved ones so we can also lead the world in murders by guns? By the way, since it’s number one killer of our kids, do you think they are committing suicide too? Got a link for that?
As to AR15 and related weapons, they should be banned for their popularity among mass killers, and for good reason – They are designed for killing humans as efficiently as possible, and due to their firing high-velocity small caliber loads, they explode tissue and organs and with low recoil, allowing maximum control by the shooter. Doctors who treat these wounds verify the facts which honest gun aficionados admit, which is they are often untreatable. The damage from a moving missile is directly proportional to it’s size and weight, but exponentially to it’s speed. That’s physics, not a partisan talking point. Get it?
There you go again, ignoring the FACT that the #1 killer of kids is ABORTION. Once again, you are completely ignorant of the facts about AR15s and mass killings. HANDGUNS are used in 78.8% of all mass killings in the US. Just admit it, those guns scare you and your fragile identity which means you lash out at anything that scares you. I did a very basic search of percentages of mass killings committed by firearm type and found this:
“In U.S. mass shootings, handguns are the most frequently used firearm type. A significant portion of mass shootings involve handguns, with studies showing they are used in approximately 78% of incidents. Assault rifles, often semi-automatic, are also a notable factor, especially in high-profile mass shootings, according to Statista. While handguns are the most common, the use of assault weapons and rifles in some deadliest mass shootings has led to significant public discussion.”
If you’re not scared of people packing handguns on our streets, in our stores, and everywhere but the state legislature, Congress, and DeSantis; office – or walking around schools with AR15’s you’re an idiot. Of course I am.
Abortions are performed on fetuses, not kids, and should be mothers choice. Gunshots are the leading cause of death for kids in the US.
You have ignored everything I typed about AR15s and why and how they should be controlled or illegal. Those are facts. Your quote supports why they are a problem. It does not weaken my point to say more people are killed by handguns than AR15s. If more people die from heart attacks than cancer would we forget about cancer? PS I don’t know which kills more but maybe you want to keep score on that and declare those concerned with the less deadly one as hypocrites.
Ah yes, I forgot fetuses were just like lamps or toasters and NOT children….I ignored what you said about AR15s because you’re purposely ignorant of the main type of firearm used in mass killings. HANDGUNS. In 2007, a whacko at VA Tech killed 33 and injured 17 more with handguns. In 2013, a whacko at US Navy Yard killed 12 and injured 3 others with a shotgun. Neither one of these mass killers used an AR15. In 1995, in Oklahoma City, a whacko used a Ryder moving truck to kill 168 people and injure scores more. He didn’t use an AR15. There are an estimated 20 MILLION AR15s in the hands of private citizens in the US today. Right now. Every day. If AR15s truly were a problem, why were rifles (not all AR15s) used in mass killings .00000325% of the time in the 65 mass killings between 1982 and 2024? Seems to me, as you claim that they are the preferred method, they should be used much more frequently. OR…is it more likely that you’re just scared of them so we need to outlaw them to make you feel better.
Kids.??? You mean gang bangers
Dude, we’re not blaming the guns, we’re blaming you for successfully flooding the nation and streets with guns, meaning they are cheap and easy to get legally and illegally and every teen on a bike may be packing.
Do you call it car violence when the vehicle is used for destruction?!!
Terminology matters!
The primary purpose of a car is to get you from point A to point B, not killing or injuring anyone. The primary purpose of a gun is killing or injurying someone.
This is not difficult.
Let’s not kid ourselves – it is the guns, combined with our volatile and divisive society. Gun control can work. And if it can work and save lives, particularly children’s lives, we are all for it, right? Watch this: https://youtu.be/9pOiOhxujsE?si=yq7qSQiH7XDWFnEg
Gun control is steady hand.
Whatever it is, you gun queers are not exercising it and your laws have worsened a bad situation.
This is my weapon, this is my gun; my weapon is for fighting, my gun is for fun!
What can work is keeping weapons out of criminals hands, out of children’s hands (parental responsibility)! Get the illegal weapons under control (report stolen weapons, back the police when they are trying to do their job protecting Americans)! Put the parent(s) in jail if they don’t secure legally owned weapons, or if they have illegally owned weapons.
Divisive society? Hmm, what in the world could cause American citizens to be divided? It could not be a certain party calling for confrontation, protecting their investment in illegal immigrants as a voting bloc, calling anyone who disagrees with their view Facists? Propping up (deceiving the American citizens and the world) a President who probably didn’t know his own name by the time he checked out of office?
I own several weapons. I carry them with me when I travel through Gainesville, and the US overall due to “our volatile and divisive society”. I registered them, and went through the long, drawn out process to obtain my concealed carry permit back when they were still required. I have no urge to go on a shooting spree, but I will defend myself, those I love, and even a fellow American, if warranted.
Good for you, but given that police shooting accuracy is below 50% forgive me for having little faith in your ability to hit the target instead of an innocent bystander. Do keep them locked up and guarded however.
Great and short video. Thanks Alan!
Seems kind of discriminatory for the county just to feature victims of gun violence. What about victims of vacuum cleaner violence (above), car violence, baseball bat violence (below), knife violence, choking violence (below), etc etc etc??? When do they get their official days of remembrances? Is there some sort of damage assessment cutoff?
None of those things you list are designed for killing or maiming people and a risk taken to use a useful tool is logically acceptable. The risk to all of us is totally out of proportion for the ease of obtaining and carrying guns which are designed to kill and maim people.