HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023 National Gun Violence Awareness Day Proclamation UPDATED 0�5 m MOR�l�c
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PR.�CLAMATION �
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Whereas; every day,more than 120 Americans are killed by gu.n violence and more than 200 are shot and
wou�ded,with an average of rnore than 17,000 gun homicides every yeax; and
WheYeas: Americans are 26 times more�ikely to die by gun homicide than peopxe iri other high-income
countries; and
W�ieYeas: Massachusetts had an average of 255 gun deaths every year from 2016 to 2421,with a rate of
3.5 deaths per 100,000 people, a crisis that costs the state$3.5 bil�ion each year,of which$85.4
mil�ion is paid by taxpayers; and
T�l�ereas: cities and towns across the natxon,inc�uding Lexington, are working to end the senseless
vialence; and
WheYeas: protect�ng public safety xn the communities they serve is one of the Se�ect Board and Town
Manager's highest responsibilities; and
T�heYeas: gun violer�ce prevention is more impor�ant than ever as we see an increase in fireaxrn homicides
and nonfatal shaotings across the country, �ncreased caX�s to domestic violence hotlines, and an
increase in city gun violence; and
Whereas: in January 2013,Hadiya Pendletan was tragica�ly shot and kil�ed at age 15; and on June 2,
2023,to recognize the 26th b�rthday of Hadiya Pendleton,people across the United States will
recogr�ize National Gun Vio�ence Awareness Day and wear orange in tribute to -(1)Hadiya
Pendleton and other victims of gun violence; and(2}the loved ones of those victirns; 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 ta ot�ier hunters when out in the woods,a�d orange is a color that
symbolizes the value of human life; and
Whereas: anyone can j oin th�s campaign by pledging to wear orange on June 2nd, the first Friday in June
in 2023,to help raise awaxeness about gur�violence; and
Whereas: by wearing orange on June 2,2023 Americans wi11 raise avvareness about gun vioience and
honor the lives of gun violence victirns and survivors; and
Whereas: we renew our commitment to reduce gun violence and pledge to do a11 we car�to keep firearms
aut of the wrong hands, and encourage respo�.sxb�e gun ov�mership ta help keep our families and
communities safe.
N�W, THEREFURE, Tfi�E THE SELECT�UARD of the Tawn af Lexington, Massachusetts, do hereby
proclaim June 2, 2�23,the first Friday in June, as
Na�i'onal Gun Valence�1wa�eness Da
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in the Town of Lexington and we encourage all citizens to support their local commun�txes' efforts to prevent
the tragic effects of gun violence and ta hanor and value human lives.
IN�ITNES S WHEREQF,we have set our hands and caused the seal of Lexington to be aff'lxed herewith on
the 22nd of May 2023.
]45EPH N.PAT4,CHAIR SUZANNE E.BARRY
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DQUG M.LUCENTE I.HAI
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MARK D.SANDEEN