Lexington – A local nonprofit, ONE Lexington, is broadening its gun‑violence prevention efforts to include accidental shootings and suicide prevention. The organization hosted a community forum to gather input from families and residents on how to address these often‑overlooked aspects of firearm safety.
Community input drives the new focus
“How can we get more input from the community, but also inform the community on the importance of gun safety?” asked Devine Carama, director of ONE Lexington, during the forum. Carama emphasized that early‑stage prevention is essential, noting that many incidents begin long before a gun is ever drawn.
“It’s not just about conflict‑based gun violence,” Carama explained. “We have a lot of young people who are accidentally shooting themselves and others. Suicide prevention is something that we got to focus on because that’s gun violence as well.”
Preventing tragedies before they happen
The nonprofit’s next step is to ensure that the community’s voices shape where resources are directed. Carama said, “If we’re not looking ahead, if we’re not looking to address things when they’re small, that’s when they begin to fester.” By hearing directly from families who have experienced accidental shootings or loss to suicide, ONE Lexington hopes to tailor programs that intervene early.
Participants at the forum shared personal stories, concerns, and suggestions. Many highlighted the need for better education on safe storage, especially in homes with children, and for mental‑health resources that can identify warning signs before a crisis escalates.
Building a safer Lexington
ONE Lexington plans to use the feedback to develop outreach workshops, school‑based education, and community‑wide campaigns that stress responsible gun ownership and mental‑health awareness. The organization also aims to partner with local law‑enforcement, schools, and faith‑based groups to spread consistent safety messages.
“We need to learn, and we want to hear from families who’ve been impacted by accidental shootings and suicides, because those experiences will inform the work moving forward,” Carama said.
The expanded initiative reflects a growing recognition that gun‑related harm includes both intentional and unintentional incidents. By focusing on prevention, education, and community collaboration, ONE Lexington hopes to reduce the number of tragic shootings and suicides in the city.
Original reporting: LEX18 Lexington (local) — read the source article.
