CITY OF COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA
Podamation
WHEREAS, in the United States, gun violence is a national concern and is a major health crisis; firearm-related injuries is the second leading cause of death for American children and teens; every day an average of seven children under the age of 19 are killed by gun violence; and
WHEREAS, every day, more than 100 Americans are killed by gun violence and on average, there are almost 13,000 gun homicides annually; the lives of countless others are injured, and Americans are 25 times more likely to be murdered with guns than people in other developed countries; and
WHEREAS, support of the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens goes hand-in-hand with keeping guns away from dangerous people; and WHEREAS, in January 2013, Hadiya Pendleton, a teenager who performed during President Obama's second inaugural parade, was tragically shot and killed just one week later. On June 2nd, she would have celebrated her 25th birthday; and WHEREAS, National Gun Violence Awareness Day is observed on the first Friday of June, was first celebrated in June 2015 in Hadiya's honor and in honor of the hundreds of Americans whose lives are cut short as well as the countless survivors who are injured by shootings every; and
WHEREAS, the idea was inspired by a group of Hadiya's friends, who asked their classmates to commemorate her life by wearing the color orange; choosing this color because hunters wear orange to announce themselves to other hunters when out in the woods; orange is a color that symbolizes the value of human life; and WHEREAS, communities across Orange County continue to mourn the victims of second deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. that occurred at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. As a result of the massacre, 21 lives were cut short, 19 children and 2 teachers, with 17 others injured; and
WHEREAS, the consequences of gun violence are more pervasive and affect entire communities, families, and children; and
CITY OF COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA
Pocamation
WHEREAS, protecting public safety is the City's highest responsibility, local law enforcement officers know their communities best and 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, the City of Costa Mesa supports continued statewide efforts to strengthen gun safety laws, pledge to keep firearms out of the wrong hands, and encourage responsible gun ownership to help keep our children safe.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, John B. Stephens, Mayor of the City of Costa Mesa, do hereby proclaim Friday, June 3, 2022, to be National Gun Violence Awareness Day in Costa Mesa and I encourage all residents to support their community's efforts to prevent the tragic effects of gun violence and to honor and value human lives.
DATED this 7th day of June, 2022.
John B. Stephens, Mayor of the City of Costa Mesa