[Congressional Bills 118th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. Res. 716 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 716 Expressing support for the designation of June 7, 2024, as ``National Gun Violence Awareness Day'' and June 2024 as ``National Gun Violence Awareness Month''. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 3, 2024 Mr. Durbin (for himself, Ms. Duckworth, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Booker, Mr. Welch, Mr. Reed, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Fetterman, Mr. Casey, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Murphy, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary _______________________________________________________________________ RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of June 7, 2024, as ``National Gun Violence Awareness Day'' and June 2024 as ``National Gun Violence Awareness Month''. Whereas, each year in the United States, more than-- (1) 43,000 individuals are killed and 76,000 individuals are wounded by gunfire; (2) 17,000 individuals are killed in homicides involving guns; (3) 24,000 individuals die by suicide using a gun; and (4) 500 individuals are killed in unintentional shootings; 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; Whereas 2023 was a deadly year for the United States, with an estimated 16,100 people killed in gun homicides or nonsuicide-related shootings; Whereas, in 2023, unintentional shootings by children surpassed 400 incidents for the first time ever, resulting in nearly 160 deaths annually; Whereas, by one count, in 2023 in the United States, there were 656 mass- shooting incidents in which not fewer than 4 people were killed or wounded by gunfire; Whereas, nationwide, 87,000 military veterans died by gun suicide from 2002- 2021; Whereas, every year in the United States, nearly 4,000 children and teens are killed by gun violence and 15,000 children and teens are shot and wounded; Whereas, approximately 9,300 people in the United States under 25 years of age die because of gun violence annually, including Hadiya Pendleton, who, in 2013, was killed at 15 years of age in Chicago, Illinois, while standing in a park; Whereas, on June 7, 2024, to recognize the 27th 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 June 2024 is an appropriate month to designate as ``National Gun Violence Awareness Month'': Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) supports-- (A) the designation of ``National Gun Violence Awareness Month'' and the goals and ideals of that month; and (B) the designation of ``National Gun Violence Awareness Day'', in remembrance of the victims of gun violence; and (2) calls on the people of the United States to-- (A) promote greater awareness of gun violence and gun safety; (B) wear orange, the color that hunters wear to show that they are not targets, on National Gun Violence Awareness Day; (C) concentrate heightened attention on gun violence during the summer months, when gun violence typically increases; and (D) bring community members and leaders together to discuss ways to make communities safer. <all>