130-18 Declaring Gun Violence Awareness Day.pdf

130-18 May 22, 2018 RESOLUTION WHEREAS, an average of 96 Americans are killed by gun violence on a daily basis and nearly 13,000-gun related homicides occur every year; and WHEREAS, Americans are 25 times more likely to be killed with guns than people in other developed countries; and WHEREAS, support for the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens goes hand-in-hand with keeping guns away from dangerous people; and WHEREAS, the officials of the Township of West Orange, including the Mayor and the Township Council value public safety as the highest responsibility in the service of the residents and the Township of West Orange community; and WHEREAS, a national coalition of organizations have designated the first Friday in June as National Gun Violence Awareness Day to honor Hadiya Pendleton, a Chicago teenager who was tragically shot and killed in January 2013 who should have been celebrating her twenty-first birthday on June 1, 2018; and WHEREAS, National Gun Violence Awareness Day is meant to honor Hadiya Pendleton and the numerous victims of gun violence who are tragically shot and killed throughout the United States of America; and WHEREAS, June 1, 2018 will be the 4th National Gun Violence Awareness Day; and WHEREAS, a group of Hadiya Pendleton’s friends urged classmates to commemorate Hadiya’s life by wearing orange, representing the color worn by hunters to announce themselves to other hunters when out in the woods and symbolizing the value of human life; and WHEREAS, the National Gun Violence Awareness Day has adopted the wearing of orange as part the campaign to help raise awareness about gun violence; and

2 WHEREAS, wearing orange on June 1, 2018 will support efforts to raise awareness about gun violence, honor the lives of gun violence victims, and honor the survivors of gun violence; and WHEREAS, the Township Council of the Township of West Orange renews its commitment to reduce gun violence and pledge to support efforts to keep firearms out of the wrong hands and encourage responsible gun ownership to help keep our children safe. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COUNCIL OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WEST ORANGE, that the first Friday in June shall be declared National Gun Violence Awareness Day; and be it further RESOLVED, that the Township encourages all citizens to support the local efforts within the community prevent the tragic effects of gun violence and to honor and value human lives. ________________________________ Karen Carnevale, R.M.C. Susan McCartney Municipal Clerk Council President Adopted: May 22, 2108 4813-3391-6517, v. 1