PROCLAMATION
Harper’s Choice Community Association Recognizes June 2, 2023 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange Weekend
WHEREAS, each year in the United States, more than
38,500 individuals are killed and 85,000 individuals are wounded by gunfire;
14,000 individuals are killed in homicides involving guns;
23,000 individuals die by suicide using a gun; and
480 individuals are killed in unintentional shootings; and
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; and
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; and
WHEREAS, approximately 8,800 people in the United States under the age of 25 die because of gun violence annually; and
WHEREAS, the greater Harper’s Choice community has unfortunately had non-fatal and fatal shooting incidents—often involving young men; and WHEREAS, several of the cases remain unsolved and the Howard County Police Department needs the help of the community to find those responsible for the homicides; 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 Hadiya Pendleton and other victims of gun violence; and the loved ones of those victims; and WHEREAS, the idea of recognizing this day was inspired by a group of Hadiya’s friends, who asked their classmates to commemorate her life by wearing orange and 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, 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 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED thatthe Harper’s Choice Community Association continues to support recreational and academic activities and programs focused on grade school aged children and teens; and
joins together with Moms Demand Action and the many other similarly positioned organizations to demand a future free from gun violence once and for all; and
designates June 2, 2023 as “National Gun Violence Awareness Day,” in remembrance of the victims of gun violence; and
FURTHER BE IT PROCLAIMED that the Harper’s Choice Community Association calls on the residents of Harper’s Choice to: promote greater awareness of gun violence and gun safety;
wear orange, on “National Gun Violence Awareness Day” and Wear Orange Weekend;
come together to discuss ways to make communities safer; and
provide information to the Howard County Police Department on the community’s active and cold case gun homicides by using the tip line for guns and gun violence, 410-313-STOP.