TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Police Department reported that 197 guns were stolen from unlocked cars in 2023.
TPD officials say those guns could end up in the wrong hands and used in shootings, like the one that occurred near Armature Works on April 9, and the shooting that took place in Ybor City last October.
Chief Lee Bercaw has made a call for the public’s help in curbing teen gun violence. He says there is a growing number of kids getting access to firearms through vehicle thefts, adults not locking them up or simply just not keeping track of them.
The police chief says community partnerships are key to curbing gun violence.
A local youth organization says that’s getting harder to do with limited resources and youth having more access to guns.
“Guns really are a problem. You know, social media, music, pop culture doesn’t make it any better,” said Jalem Robinson, CEO of BUBBA Inc.
Robinson founded the mentorship program Brothers United Building Brothers Alliance, also known as BUBBA Inc., to help male youth find their way.
“Sometimes they want to say where they’re coming from, broken homes. Not all of them. Some come from great homes and parents who are trying and reaching out for help,” he said.
The organization hosts their annual Sons In Suits gala to celebrate the accomplishments of local youth.
“We’re providing a space and a platform to do just that, to celebrate, appreciate, value, and love on our brothers, our boys and men, period — who don’t get that, you know, consistently,” said Robinson.
Having a place for youth to go to is something the city of Tampa has been looking at closely.
Following the Ybor City shooting that injured 16 and killed two, the city increased funding for its Stay-and-Play program.
District 7 Councilman Luis Viera said funding for such programs is continually discussed by the council.
“We’re talking about youth programs to fund about 75 jobs for summer youth,” said Viera. “One of the things that I’ve pushed for is apprenticeships, making sure that 12% of our contracts with the city of Tampa, over $1,000,000, come for skilled trade apprenticeships. So that means young people who will be trained to be welders, carpenters, electricians, etc., and making sure that they have access to training. Again, the big idea, I think, with our youth is to make sure that they know that there is an alternative to the streets.”
Robinson said the goal to end youth gun violence won’t be solved by his organization alone.
“It’s a community thing,” he said. “You know, it’s not just agencies, like I said before. How can we all work together to fill in some of these gaps here? And, you know, when I talk to them [youth], they just need something to do and somebody to listen.“
BUBBA Inc. is hosting its Sons In Suits community awards on April 28.
