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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-05-20-G02 Proclamation_National Gun Violence Awareness DayAGENDA ITEM: CITY OF WAUKEE, IOWA CITY COUNCIL MEETING COMMUNICATION MEETING DATE: May 20, 2019 AGENDA ITEM:Declaring the First Friday in June to be National Gun Violence Awareness Day FORMAT:Proclamation SYNOPSIS INCLUDING PRO & CON: FISCAL IMPACT INCLUDING COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS: COMMISSION/BOARD/COMMITTEE COMMENT: STAFF REVIEW AND COMMENT: RECOMMENDATION: The Mayor shall issue the proclamation. ATTACHMENTS: I. Proclamation PREPARED BY:Becky Schuett REVIEWED BY: G2 THE CITY OF WAUKEE, IOWA PROCLAMATION DECLARING THE FIRST FRIDAY IN JUNE TO BE NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF WAUKEE, IOWA WHEREAS, every day, 100 Americans are killed by gun violence and on average there are nearly 13,000 gun homicides every year and are 25 times more likely to be killed with guns than people in other high- income countries; 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 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, in January 2013, Hadiya Pendleton, a teenager who marched in President Obama’s second inaugural parade and was tragically shot and killed just weeks later, should be now celebrating her 22nd birthday; AND, WHEREAS, to help honor Hadiya – and the 100 Americans whose lives are cut short and the countless survivors who are injured by shootings every day – a national coalition of organizations has designated June 7, 2019, the first Friday in June, as the 5th 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 because hunters wear that color 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 2019, to help 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 that I, William F. Peard, Mayor of Waukee, Iowa, declare the first Friday in June, June 7, 2019, to be 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. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused the Great Seal of the City of Waukee to be affixed this May 20, 2019. _________________________________________ William F. Peard, Mayor