Title: A resolution expressing support for the designation of June 4, 2021, as "National Gun Violence Awareness Day" and June 2021 as "National Gun Violence Awareness Month".
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
This resolution supports the designation of National Gun Violence Awareness Month and the designation of National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 242 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 242

 Expressing support for the designation of June 4, 2021, as ``National 
 Gun Violence Awareness Day'' and June 2021 as ``National Gun Violence 
                           Awareness Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 26, 2021

Mr. Durbin (for himself, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Feinstein, Ms. Klobuchar, 
Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Booker, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Markey, Mr. Carper, Mr. Van 
   Hollen, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Smith, Mr. Casey, Mr. Merkley, and Mrs. 
 Murray) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing support for the designation of June 4, 2021, as ``National 
 Gun Violence Awareness Day'' and June 2021 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) 14,000 individuals are killed in homicides involving guns;

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

    (4) 480 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 2020 was one of the deadliest years on record for the United States, 
        with an estimated 19,300 individuals killed in gun homicides or 
        nonsuicide-related shootings, a 25-percent increase over 2019;
Whereas unintentional shooting deaths by children increased by nearly \1/3\, 
        comparing incidents in March to December of 2020 to the same months in 
        2019;
Whereas, by 1 count, in 2020 in the United States, there were 610 mass shooting 
        incidents in which at least 4 individuals were killed or wounded by 
        gunfire;
Whereas, every year in the United States, more than 3,000 children and teens are 
        killed by gun violence and 15,000 children and teens are shot and 
        wounded;
Whereas approximately 8,800 individuals 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 4, 2021, to recognize the 24th birthday of Hadiya Pendleton 
        (born June 2, 1997), individuals 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 2021 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.
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