HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023 National Gun Violence Awareness Day Proclamation 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
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, WE THE SELECT BOARD of the Town of�exington, Massachusetts, do hereby
proclaim June 2, 2023,the first Friday in June, as
National Gun �olence Awa�eness Da
y
in the Town of Lexington and 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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have set our hands and caused the seal of Lexington to be affixed herewith on
the l Oth of Apri12023.
� �
�
JIL L AI,CHAIR JOSEPH . `
�
�_��
� SUZA E.BARRY DOUGLAS M. llCENTE
°�_____ ---�� �°"
�
� w� �
MARK D. ANDEEN