WHEREAS, every day, 120 Americans are killed by gun violence and more than 200 are shot and wounded, with an average of nearly 18,000-gun related homicides every year; and
WHEREAS, Americans are 26 times more likely to die by gun homicide than people in other high-income countries; and
WHEREAS, in California has 20,984 gun deaths every year, with a rate of 9 deaths per 100,000 people, a crisis that costs the state 20 billion each year, of which 12.62 is paid by taxpayers. California 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 in Richmond, are working to end the senseless violence with evidence-based solutions; and
WHEREAS, protecting public safety in the communities they serve is mayors’ highest responsibility; 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 and law enforcement officers —in partnership with local violence intervention activists and resources —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 we see an increase in firearm homicides, and nonfatal shootings across the country, increased calls to domestic violence hotlines, and an increase in city gun violence; and
WHEREAS, in January 2013, Hadiya Pendleton was tragically shot and killed at age 15; and on June 7, 2024 to recognize the 27th birthday of Hadiya Pendleton (born: June 2, 1997), people across the United States will recognize National Gun Violence Awareness Day and wear orange in tribute to -
(1) Hadiya Pendleton and other victims of gun violence; and (2) the loved ones of those victims; and
WHEREAS,
Proclamation Recognizing Declaring The First Friday in June to be National Gun Violence Awareness Day in
The City of Richmond, California
WHEREAS, the idea was inspired by a group of Hadiya’s friends, who asked their classmates to commemorate her life by wearing orange; they chose this color because hunters wear orange to announce themselves to other hunters when out in the woods, and orange is a color that symbolizes the value of human life; and
WHEREAS, anyone can join this campaign by pledging to wear orange on June 7th, the first Friday in June in 2024, to help raise awareness about gun violence; and
WHEREAS, by wearing orange for the first weekend of June. Americans will raise awareness about gun violence and honor the lives of gun violence victims and survivors; and
WHEREAS, we renew our commitment to reduce gun violence and pledge to do all we can to keep firearms out of the hands of people who should not have access to them, and encourage responsible gun ownership to help keep our families and communities safe.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Mayor Eduardo Martinez, and the Richmond City Council do hereby declare the first weekend Friday in June of 2024, to recognize National Gun Violence Awareness Day. I encourage all citizens to support their local communities’ efforts to prevent the tragic effects of gun violence and to honor and value human lives.
___________________________ ______________________________ Mayor Eduardo Martinez Council Member Soheila Bana City of Richmond City of Richmond June 4, 2024 District 4