Sponsored by:

Senator NILSA CRUZ-PEREZ

District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)

Senator DAWN MARIE ADDIEGO

District 8 (Atlantic, Burlington and Camden)

SYNOPSIS

Designates June 2 of each year as "Gun Violence Awareness Day."

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As reported by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee on February 24, 2020, with amendments.

A Joint Resolution designating June 2 of each year as "Gun Violence Awareness Day" in the State of New Jersey.

Whereas, According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in ¹[2016] 2017¹ there were a total of ¹[38,658] 39,773¹ firearm related deaths in the United States and of those deaths an estimated ¹[13,000] 14,542¹ are attributed to firearm homicides; and

¹[Whereas, The CDC data indicates that nationwide an annual average of 67,197 nonfatal firearm injuries occur; and]¹

Whereas, According to the CDC, in New Jersey there were ¹[485] 478¹ firearm related deaths in ¹[2016] 2017¹ and ¹[475] 420¹ firearm related deaths in ¹[2015] 2018¹; and

Whereas, Americans are 25 times more likely to be murdered with firearms than people in other developed countries; and

Whereas, Firearm violence is the leading cause of death for women in instances of domestic violence in the United States each year; and

Whereas, ¹[Thousands of children under the age of 19 annually die as a result of firearms] An estimated 1,500 children die annually as a result of firearms, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence¹; and

Whereas, One example of these tragic child victims is Hadiya Pendleton who, at the age of 15, was shot and killed in Chicago just one week after performing at ¹former¹ President ¹Barack¹ Obama's second inaugural parade in 2013; and

Whereas, On June 2, 2013, a group of Chicago teens commemorated the life of their slain friend, Hadiya, by marching to raise awareness about firearm violence; and

Whereas, Many communities across the nation have marched annually on June 2 to recognize the death of Hadiya, to honor the many lives cut short and the hundreds more injured by firearm violence every day, and to demand action to end these tragedies; and

Whereas, Support for the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens goes hand-in-hand with keeping firearms away from dangerous people; and

Whereas, The goals of the national "Gun Violence Awareness Day" campaign are: to promote greater awareness about firearm violence and firearm safety; to concentrate annual heightened attention to firearm violence during the summer months, when firearm violence typically increases; and to bring citizens and community leaders together to discuss ways to make our communities safer; and

Whereas, The State of New Jersey encourages all citizens to support their local communities' efforts to prevent the tragic effects of firearm violence and declares June 2 of every year as "Gun Violence Awareness Day" in this State to honor and remember all victims and survivors of firearm violence and to declare that we as a country must do more to reduce firearm violence; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. June 2 of each year is designated as "Gun Violence Awareness Day" in New Jersey to honor and remember all victims of, and others affected by, firearm violence.

2. The Governor shall annually issue a proclamation and call upon public officials, private organizations, and all citizens of this State to observe "Gun Violence Awareness Day" with appropriate awareness activities and programs.

3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.