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To recognize June as Gun Violence Awareness Month in the City of Columbus and recognize the work of Moms Demand Action
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WHEREAS, thousands of Americans wear orange on June 4 to remember the lives lost to gun violence and raise awareness of gun violence in our communities; and
WHEREAS, the Wear Orange movement for gun violence awareness began in 2013 in honor of 15 year-old Hadiya Pendleton, who was shot and killed in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, In 2020, gun violence killed 19,402 and injured an additional 39,438 in United States. 5,132 of these cases involved children and teenagers under the age of 18.
WHEREAS, gun related violence has dramatically increased since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in many major U.S. cities; and
WHEREAS, In the City of Columbus, 85 percent of homicides were the result of gunshot wounds in 2020, and from 2015 to 2020, 1,117 gun related deaths occurred in the city; and
WHEREAS, 85 homicides have occurred in the City of Columbus as of June 4, 2021; and
WHEREAS, On May 22, 2021, a 16-year old girl was tragically killed and 7 others were injured during a mass shooting that occurred in Bicentennial Park; and
WHEREAS, federal, state, and local government must work to enact policies seeking to prevent gun violence by encouraging gun safety and responsible gun ownership; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus City Council continues efforts to enact public safety measures that reduce gun violence; and
WHEREAS, Moms Demand Action is a national organization dedicated to preventing gun violence in communities by encouraging a culture of responsible gun ownership through education and outreach with community members and by advocating for public safety measures aimed at protecting people from gun violence; and
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby, recognize June as Gun Violence Awareness Month in the City of Columbus and recognize the work of Moms Demand Action for their education, outreach, and advocacy efforts to protect people from gun violence across the United States.