Title: A resolution expressing support for the designation of June 3, 2022, as "National Gun Violence Awareness Day" and June 2022 as "National Gun Violence Awareness Month".
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
This resolution expresses support for the designation of June 2022 as National Gun Violence Awareness Month and the designation of June 3, 2022, as National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 651 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 651

 Expressing support for the designation of June 3, 2022, as ``National 
 Gun Violence Awareness Day'' and June 2022 as ``National Gun Violence 
                           Awareness Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 26, 2022

Mr. Durbin (for himself, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Blumenthal, 
Mr. Booker, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Reed, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Casey, Mr. 
Markey, Mr. Lujan, and Ms. Baldwin) submitted the following resolution; 
          which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing support for the designation of June 3, 2022, as ``National 
 Gun Violence Awareness Day'' and June 2022 as ``National Gun Violence 
                           Awareness Month''.

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

    (1) 38,500 individuals are killed and 85,000 individuals are wounded by 
gunfire;

    (2) 15,000 individuals are killed in homicides involving guns;

    (3) 23,000 individuals die by suicide using a gun; and

    (4) 490 individuals are killed in unintentional shootings;

Whereas, since 1968, more people 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 2021 was one of the deadliest years on record for the United States, 
        with an estimated 20,700 people killed in gun homicides or nonsuicide-
        related shootings, a 6 percent increase over 2020;
Whereas unintentional shooting deaths by children recently increased by nearly 
        \1/3\, comparing incidents in March to December of 2020 to the same 
        months in 2019;
Whereas, by 1 count, in 2021 in the United States, there were 693 mass shooting 
        incidents in which at least 4 people were killed or wounded by gunfire;
Whereas, since 2010, 65,000 veterans of the Armed Forces have died by suicide in 
        the United States, with the overwhelming majority of such deaths being 
        the result of a firearm;
Whereas, every year in the United States, more than 3,500 children and teens are 
        killed by gun violence and 15,000 children and teens are shot and 
        wounded;
Whereas approximately 8,500 people in the United States under the age of 25 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 3, 2022, to recognize the 25th 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 2022 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 June 2022 as ``National Gun 
                Violence Awareness Month'' and the goals and ideals of 
                that month; and
                    (B) the designation of June 3, 2022, as ``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.
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