Bill Text: MI HR0270 | 2019-2020 | 100th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: A resolution to declare the June 5, 2020, as National Gun Violence Awareness Day in the state of Michigan.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 20-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-06-03 - Referred To Committee On Government Operations [HR0270 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2019-HR0270-Introduced.html
house resolution no.270
Rep. Stone offered the following resolution:
Whereas, Every day, more than 100 Americans are killed by gun violence 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, In an average year, Michigan has 1187 gun deaths, with a rate of 11.8 deaths per 100,000 people. Michigan has the 30th highest rate of gun deaths in the US; and
Whereas, Gun homicides predominantly occur 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 cities in Michigan are working to end the senseless violence with evidence-based solutions; and
Whereas, Protecting public safety in the communities they serve is the legislatures’ 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, Legislators 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, The pandemic facing America has drastically impacted communities and individuals sheltering in place which may result in situations where access to firearms results in increased risk in intimate partner violence gun deaths, suicide by gun and unintentional shootings;
Whereas, In January 2013, Hadiya Pendleton, a teenager who marched in the presidential inaugural parade and was tragically shot and killed just weeks later, should be now celebrating her 23rd birthday; and
Whereas, To help honor Hadiya – and the more than 100 Americans whose lives are cut short every day and the countless survivors who are injured by shootings every day – a national coalition of organizations has designated June 5, 2020, the first Friday in June, as the 6th National Gun Violence Awareness Day; and
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 5th, the first Friday in June in 2020, to help raise awareness about gun violence; and
Whereas, By wearing orange on June 5, 2020 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 wrong hands, and encourage responsible gun ownership to help keep our children safe; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare June 5, 2020, as National Gun Violence Awareness Day in the state of Michigan. We encourage all citizens to support their local communities’ efforts to prevent the tragic effects of gun violence and to honor and value human lives.
