Julianne Moore Instagram – “I love you forever and ever and ever, and you’re going to always be a reminder in my walk of life, and I’ll continue to do things in your honor till the day I leave this world.” – Lavern Lucier of Durham, North Carolina, and this week’s #WomenCrushWednesday
On August 10, 2020, just one month after his 18th birthday, Lavern’s son, Syncere Burrell, was shot and killed. “Syncere was a beautiful person,” Lavern shares. “He was sweet. He loved everybody. He was a funny guy. He loved to make you laugh.” She also adds that her son’s murder remains unsolved: “I’m just praying that one day the person who did it will wake up and turn themselves in.”
In her pursuit for justice, Lavern channeled her grief and sorrow into action, sharing, “I won’t allow what happened to my son to make me bitter, but try to help the other children who are still here.” She began volunteering with @MomsDemand and became a leading voice in the gun safety movement in Durham, championing secure gun storage and raising awareness of guns stolen from cars.
On average, at least one gun is stolen from a car every nine minutes in the United States, and the majority of gun homicides and assaults involve stolen or illegal guns. Gun thefts from cars are the largest source of those stolen guns.
In her advocacy, Lavern urges gun owners to always lock their vehicles and securely store their guns in those vehicles, while also calling for legislation that would require secure gun storage. She knows these incidents are preventable and is determined to protect other families in Durham from the loss she experienced: “I will not rest until everyone’s child is safe from gun violence.” Thank you, Lavern, for your lifesaving work.
This Saturday will mark four years since Syncere’s passing. Please join me in honoring Syncere and Lavern by texting READY to 644-33, and clicking the link in my bio to learn more about gun thefts from cars. #wcw | Posted on 07/Aug/2024 20:47:18
