LEONARDTOWN, MD—The St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) and Full Sail Media have been honored with a Silver Award at the 19th Annual Davey Awards in the General-Public Service & Activism category. Their collaboration produced the public service announcement (PSA) titled “Don’t Play Games With Gun Safety,” addressing gun safety and violence in St. Mary’s County and across Maryland. The award-winning effort is part of a broader campaign to promote responsible firearm storage and reduce gun violence through education and community engagement.
The PSA, accessible at youtube.com/watch?v=0Z2e0GMfj_8, forms a critical component of a multifaceted strategy implemented by SMCHD and Full Sail Media. This Baltimore-based creative marketing agency has played a pivotal role in crafting messages that resonate deeply within the community. Beyond digital messaging, their collaborative efforts extend to distributing gun safety locks at local events and harnessing social media platforms to amplify their mission.
Michelle Pottinger, the Violence, Injury, and Trauma Unit Director at SMCHD, emphasizes the campaign’s significance in fostering a safer community environment. “This campaign is vital in raising awareness as well as promoting safe firearm storage,” she noted, highlighting ongoing partnerships with law enforcement, community organizations, and leaders aimed at mitigating gun violence. The initiative seeks to offer education and resources for both victims and perpetrators, aspiring for a community free from violence.
The urgency of this campaign is underscored by startling statistics from the 2021 Crime in Maryland report, which revealed that firearms were involved in 81.2% of murders and 26.8% of aggravated assaults in the state for that year. These figures starkly illustrate the critical need for focused intervention strategies to prevent firearm-related injuries and deaths, including suicide.
Nelson Anderson, the president and founder of Full Sail Media, expressed pride in the agency’s dedication to mission-based projects, particularly those that align with community safety and wellbeing. “Doing mission-based projects is something we value at Full Sail Media,” Anderson stated. He hopes the Davey Award recognition will spotlight the high-quality efforts of the SMCHD and their initiatives, especially concerning the distribution and promotion of gun safety locks.
In support of the continued mission to enhance safety within St. Mary’s County, residents are encouraged to visit gunlocksmc.com to request a free gun safety lock. This initiative not only highlights the local commitment to preventing gun violence but also serves as a model for community and agency collaboration towards a safer society.
