May 21, 2020

Van Hollen, Durbin, Duckworth, Kelly Introduce Resolution Establishing “national Gun Violence Awareness Day"

To bring attention to the issue of gun violence, Americans are encouraged to wear orange on June 5 - this June would’ve marked Hadiya Pendleton’s 23rd birthday

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced a resolution in the Senate establishing June 5, 2020, as “National Gun Violence Awareness Day” and designating June as “National Gun Violence Awareness Month.” U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) will introduce a companion resolution in the House. 

Every day in America, an average of around 300 men, women, and children are shot, nearly one-third of them fatally. Designating a day to bring attention to the issue of gun violence honors the thousands of Americans who are victims of gun violence every year, including Hadiya Pendleton who was shot and killed in Chicago, Illinois, on January 29, 2013. Hadiya would have celebrated her 23rd birthday this June. The resolution also urges citizens and community leaders to concentrate heightened attention on gun violence during the month of June, when gun violence typically spikes at the start of the summer months, and to work together to make our communities safer.    

Along with Van Hollen, Durbin, and Duckworth, cosponsors include: U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Jack Reed (D-RI), Chris Coons (D-DE),  Patty Murray (D-WA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Bob Casey (D-PA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI). 

Gun violence is an issue that affects communities in every state across the country. Each year, more than 37,500 people in America are killed and 73,300 are injured by gunfire.  

A copy of today’s resolution is available here.