Shaquille O’Neal is a man of the people and uses his success to help others. We’ve witnessed it in viral videos, where Shaq has displayed acts of kindness such as paying for an engagement ring for one man and purchasing a bicycle for a young boy.
Earlier this week, the Basketball Hall of Famer took up another important cause- guns.
On Monday, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office announced that Shaq was sponsoring a gun buyback program in the city to help get guns off the street.
“This is an opportunity for law enforcement to educate and equip community members with the tools to properly dispose of unwanted firearms,” wrote Sherriff Marian Brown in a statement. “Too many deaths have occurred from firearms lying around and they end up in the hands of the vulnerable population.”
The initiative, available only to private Dallas County residents, creates a safe way for authorities to remove guns from the city and communities that are often plagued by the violence it causes.
The event, which takes place on Saturday, February 10th, will limit residents to three firearms each. $100 gift cards will be given to owners who turn in handguns while long gun owners will receive $125 gift cards.
“I support Sheriff Brown’s initiatives; Sheriff is doing the right thing and keeping our communities safe,” said Shaq.
It’s a step in the right direction to address a rising problem in the state.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, almost 300 (295) Texans under the age of 18 were shot and killed in 2022. That’s an alarming increase from 2012 when that number was just over 100. According to state figures, that means that roughly eight out of 100,000 teens in Texans were killed by guns in 2022. Ten years ago, that number was three out of 100,000.
This all means that gun violence is the leading cause of death for Texas youth.
Hopefully, Shaq’s participation can spur more action to address an issue that only continues to escalate and destroy families across the city, state and country.
