Coming for You/Save a Life

On Monday, November 6, 2023, Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced the kick-off of a new public service initiative meant to reinforce his office’s ongoing commitment to aggressively prosecute the illegal possession and use of guns.  This two-pronged “Coming for You/Save a Life” public service initiative is designed to:

1. Act as a harsh warning/reminder of the severe consequences for those who put our neighbors at risk through illegal gun possession and related violence.
2. Encourage community members to contribute to making our streets safer by anonymously reporting someone who is carrying an illegal firearm or involved in gun-related violence.

The initiative will feature a series of billboards focused on warning offenders of harsh consequences of illegal gun possession, and a series of posters and postcards that encourage the anonymous reporting of those who possess illegal guns in Orange County. In addition, the campaign includes a powerful public service announcement video intended to drive home the negative impacts of illegal gun possession and the need for the community to contribute to making our streets safer. The video can be found at: LINK.

Thi initiative was not funded at the taxpayers’ expense. Instead, costs were covered by asset forfeiture funds seized from people convicted of crimes.

COMING FOR YOU

Did you know that 98% of crimes related to illegal gun possession and handgun-related violence in Orange County are committed by less than 1% of the population?

No one should have to live in fear in their own neighborhoods.

To that end, the District Attorney’s Office continues to work with local law enforcement to utilize available technology, including DNA, body-worn camera footage, surveillance video, phone technology, and analysis to identify and prosecute violent criminals.

Once offenders are arrested, the Office’s most experienced Assistant District Attorneys will do everything in their power to hold violent criminals accountable, including seeking significant prison sentences for such offenders.

The concept is simple: If you have an illegal firearm in Orange County, we are COMING FOR YOU. You WILL face felony charges, and you WILL serve prison time.

Increasingly, the Office has seen a direct connection between high-level narcotics trafficking and guns. To disrupt narcotics trafficking is to also disrupt violent crime, and vice versa. As such, the Office continues to pursue lengthy and fruitful long-term narcotics investigations, which often result in the recovery of illegal guns. Such recovery frequently means taking a gun off the street and out of the hands of a dangerous offender before it can hurt or kill others.

SAVE A LIFE

We are in this together.  To maintain the safety of our shared community, law enforcement needs the cooperation and assistance of the public to stand up in the face of illegal gun possession and use. 

It’s time to put an end to gun violence across our communities, and you can help.

As part of the “Save a Life” initiative, law enforcement is urging the cooperation of members of the community to reach out to the dedicated confidential tip line to report illegal gun possession or use.

If you are a victim of, or witness to gun violence, or know of someone who is carrying an illegal firearm, law enforcement is asking that you be brave enough NOT to stay silent. Anonymously report illegal gun possession and/or activity to the District Attorney’s Confidential Crime Tip Line by calling 845-291-2106.

Your bravery could save a life, maybe even your own.

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To be clear, law enforcement’s pursuit of violent offenders does not - and will never - include the vast majority of gun owners who lawfully and safely possess legal firearms. To the contrary, the licensed/lawful possession of guns is an important right in our community. However, those who flout our laws and who use guns unlawfully against others pose a grave risk to us all.  Police, prosecutors, and members of our community must work together to keep our streets safe. 

Help spread the word; find materials from the initiatives below that can be used on social media or for display, or distribution in your office, business, home, community centers, and anywhere else the message may be heard.

For further information about the “Coming for You” campaign, or to request copies of the materials prepared for the campaign, please contact the District Attorney’s Special Projects and Community Affairs Bureau at 845-615-3640 or by email at DACommunityAffairs@OrangeCountyGov.com.

NOTABLE ILLEGAL GUN-RELATED CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS