Title
Declaring the first Friday in June to be National Gun Violence Awareness Day.
Body
WHEREAS, every day, more than 100 Americans are killed by gun violence, alongside more than 230 who are shot and wounded, and on average there are more than 13,000 gun homicides every year; and
WHEREAS, Americans are 25 times more likely to die by gun homicide than people in other high-income countries; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota has an average of 442 gun deaths every year, with a rate of 7.8 deaths per 100,000 people. Minnesota has the 44th highest rate of gun deaths in the US; and
WHEREAS, gun homicides and assaults are concentrated in cities, with more than half of all firearm related gun deaths in the nation occurring in 127 cities; and
WHEREAS, cities across the nation, including Saint Paul, are working to end the senseless violence with evidence-based solutions; and
WHEREAS, protecting public safety in the communities they serve is the highest responsibility of mayors and city councilmembers; and
WHEREAS, support for the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens goes hand-in-hand with keeping guns away from people with dangerous histories; and
WHEREAS, mayors, councilmembers and law enforcement officers know their communities best, are the most familiar with local criminal activity and how to address it, and are best positioned to understand how to keep their citizens safe; and
WHEREAS, gun violence prevention is more important than ever as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to exacerbate gun violence after more than a year of increased gun sales, increased calls to suicide and domestic violence hotlines, and an increase in city gun violence; and
WHEREAS, since 2013, the First Friday in June has been recognized as National Gun Violence Awareness Day, in memory of Hadiya Pendleton who was tragically shot and killed at age 15 in January of that year, just one week after performing at events for the second inauguration of President Barack Obama; and
WHEREAS, on that day, people across the United States will recognize National Gun Violence Awareness Day by wearing orange - the color that protects hunters in the woods symbolic of the value of human life - in tribute to Hadiya Pendleton and too many victims of gun violence, and their loved ones; and
WHEREAS, anyone can join this campaign by pledging to wear orange on Friday, June 4, the first Friday in June in 2021, to help raise awareness about gun violence; and
WHEREAS, we renew our commitment to reduce gun violence and pledge to do all we can to keep firearms out of the wrong hands and encourage responsible gun ownership to help keep our children and our communities safe; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the City Council for the City of Saint Paul declares the First Friday in June -- June 4, 2021 -- to be National Gun Violence Awareness Day and expresses our strong support and gratitude to all the individuals and organizations working across Saint Paul to prevent the tragic effects of gun violence, and to honor and value human lives.