2023 National Gun Violence Awareness Day Proclamation

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i � '' �,�,a3�"��";�'��► ,.. �� ��'� �� . ;� � � �;ft ;�� °�� '��`� , _� � � � �ob�� of �.extn�gto� �.�.��acc�ju�ett� :�� ,� , :� �� x ��'�''� SELECT BOARD OFFICE �r�'�^c4 i ''i�. d y V��"� �� PR�CLAMATION � ,� � � r � � � , �, �, ,. Whereas: every day, more than 110 Americans are killed by gun violence, alongside more than 200 who are shot and wounded, and on average there are nearly 16,000 gun homicides every year; and Whe�eas: Americans are 26 times more likely to die by gun homicide than people in other high-income countries; and Whereas: Massachusetts had an average of 255 gun deaths per year from 2016 to 2020,with a rate of 3.5 deaths per 100,000 people. Massachusetts has the 51 st highest rate of gun deaths in the US; and Whereas: cities and towns across the nation, including Lexington,MA are working to end the senseless violence; and Whereas: protecting public safety in the communities they serve is one of the Select Board and Town Manager's highest responsibilities; and Whereas: gun violence prevention is more important than ever as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to exacerbate gun violence after more than two years of increased gun sales, increased calls to suicide and 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 2, 2023 to recognize the 26th 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: 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 2nd,the first Friday in June in 2023,to help raise awareness about gun violence; and Whereas: by wearing orange on June 2, 2023 Americans will raise awareness about gun violence and honor the lives of gun violence victims and survivors; and