Label
Council Members Gadus, Komives and Melden
Title
Declaring the first Friday in June to be National Gun Violence Awareness Day in the City of Toledo; and declaring an emergency.
Summary
WHEREAS, every day, more than 120 Americans are killed by gun violence and more than 200 are shot and wounded, with an average of more than 17,000 gun homicides every year; and
WHEREAS, Americans are 26 times more likely to die by gun homicide than people in other high-income countries; and
WHEREAS, Ohio has 1,911 gun deaths every year, with a rate of 16.5 deaths per 100,000 people, a crisis that costs the state $22.3 billion each year, of which $493.7 million is paid by taxpayers. Ohio has the 27th highest rate of gun deaths in the US; and
WHEREAS, gun homicides and assaults are concentrated in cities, with more than half of all firearm related gun deaths in the nation occurring in 127 cities; and
WHEREAS, cities across the nation, including in Toledo, are working to end the senseless violence with evidence-based solutions; and
WHEREAS, protecting public safety in the communities they serve is mayors’ highest responsibility; and
WHEREAS, support for the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens goes hand-in-hand with keeping guns away from people with dangerous histories; and
WHEREAS, mayors and law enforcement officers -in partnership with local violence intervention activists and resources -know their communities best, are the most familiar with local criminal activity and how to address it, and are best positioned to understand how to keep their citizens safe; and
WHEREAS, gun violence prevention is more important than ever as we see an increase in firearm homicides, and nonfatal shootings across the country, increased calls to domestic violence hotlines, and an increase in city gun violence; and
WHEREAS, in January 2013, Hadiya Pendleton was tragically shot and killed at age 15; and on June 2, 2023 to recognize the 26th 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, 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 to other hunters when out in the woods, and orange is a color that symbolizes the value of human life; and
WHEREAS, anyone can join this campaign by pledging to wear orange on June 2nd, the first Friday in June in 2023, to help raise awareness about gun violence; and
WHEREAS, by wearing orange on June 2, 2023 Americans will raise awareness about gun violence and honor the lives of gun violence victims and survivors; and
WHEREAS, we renew our commitment to reduce gun violence and pledge to do all we can to keep firearms out of the hands of people who should not have access to them, and encourage responsible gun ownership to help keep our families and communities safe; NOW, THEREFORE,
Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. That City Council of the City of Toledo, Ohio declares the first Friday in June; June 2, 2023, to be National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Encouraging all citizens to support their local communities’ efforts to prevent the tragic effects of gun violence and to honor and value human lives.
SECTION 2. That this Resolution is declared to be an emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety and property of the City, and for the further reason that this Resolution is required to be immediately effective in order to restore peace of mind to residents of Toledo that they will not be negatively affected by gun violence; wherefore, this Resolution shall be in full force and effect immediately upon its adoption or at the earliest time allowed by law.
Adopted: May 30, 2023, as an emergency measure: yeas 11, nays 0.
Attest:
Gerald E. Dendinger Matt Cherry
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: May 30, 2023
Wade Kapszukiewicz
Mayor