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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 716 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 716

 Expressing support for the designation of June 7, 2024, as ``National 
 Gun Violence Awareness Day'' and June 2024 as ``National Gun Violence 
                           Awareness Month''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 3, 2024

Mr. Durbin (for himself, Ms. Duckworth, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Blumenthal, 
 Ms. Hirono, Mr. Booker, Mr. Welch, Mr. Reed, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Heinrich, 
   Mr. Fetterman, Mr. Casey, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Murphy, and Mr. Wyden) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                            on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Expressing support for the designation of June 7, 2024, as ``National 
 Gun Violence Awareness Day'' and June 2024 as ``National Gun Violence 
                           Awareness Month''.

Whereas, each year in the United States, more than--

    (1) 43,000 individuals are killed and 76,000 individuals are wounded by 
gunfire;

    (2) 17,000 individuals are killed in homicides involving guns;

    (3) 24,000 individuals die by suicide using a gun; and

    (4) 500 individuals are killed in unintentional shootings;

Whereas, since 1968, more individuals have died from guns in the United States 
        than have died on the battlefields of all the wars in the history of the 
        United States;
Whereas 2023 was a deadly year for the United States, with an estimated 16,100 
        people killed in gun homicides or nonsuicide-related shootings;
Whereas, in 2023, unintentional shootings by children surpassed 400 incidents 
        for the first time ever, resulting in nearly 160 deaths annually;
Whereas, by one count, in 2023 in the United States, there were 656 mass-
        shooting incidents in which not fewer than 4 people were killed or 
        wounded by gunfire;
Whereas, nationwide, 87,000 military veterans died by gun suicide from 2002-
        2021;
Whereas, every year in the United States, nearly 4,000 children and teens are 
        killed by gun violence and 15,000 children and teens are shot and 
        wounded;
Whereas, approximately 9,300 people in the United States under 25 years of age 
        die because of gun violence annually, including Hadiya Pendleton, who, 
        in 2013, was killed at 15 years of age in Chicago, Illinois, while 
        standing in a park;
Whereas, on June 7, 2024, to recognize the 27th 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 June 2024 is an appropriate month to designate as ``National Gun 
        Violence Awareness Month'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports--
                    (A) the designation of ``National Gun Violence 
                Awareness Month'' and the goals and ideals of that 
                month; and
                    (B) the designation of ``National Gun Violence 
                Awareness Day'', in remembrance of the victims of gun 
                violence; and
            (2) calls on the people of the United States to--
                    (A) promote greater awareness of gun violence and 
                gun safety;
                    (B) wear orange, the color that hunters wear to 
                show that they are not targets, on National Gun 
                Violence Awareness Day;
                    (C) concentrate heightened attention on gun 
                violence during the summer months, when gun violence 
                typically increases; and
                    (D) bring community members and leaders together to 
                discuss ways to make communities safer.
                                 <all>
```