Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

ENROLLED ORIGINAL

                               A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION

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                   IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

                                         August 3, 2021

To celebrate and recognize the month of August as Public Safety and Shooting Awareness

       Month in the District of Columbia.

        WHEREAS, It has become critical that we bring citywide attention to Public Safety in

the District of Columbia across all Wards, and, especially East of the River, in Wards 8 and 7;

       WHEREAS, Given the increase of violence in general and gun violence in particular,

especially in Wards 8 and 7, it is critical that the District of Columbia take a unified and

comprehensive approach to Public Safety in order to promote safe and productive communities;

        WHEREAS, In 2020, shootings increased 26 percent;

        WHEREAS, In 2020, 87 percent of the total 198 homicides in the city were caused by

guns;

        WHEREAS, In 2020, 95 percent of the 198 homicide victims were Black;

       WHEREAS, In the first month of 2021, there were 12 homicides citywide and 6 of those

were in Ward 8;

       WHEREAS, March 27 through April 3 of 2021, the Metropolitan Police Department

reported 17 shootings and 9 of those victims died;

        WHEREAS, On June 6, 2021, 5 people were shot with 20 minutes;

      WHEREAS, In a period of less than 24 hours between the evening of July 2nd and the early

morning of July 3rd, 2021, there were 4 shootings;

       WHEREAS, February 2021, District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser declared gun

violence a public health crisis;

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                                                                          ENROLLED ORIGINAL

        RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this

resolution be cited as the Public Safety Awareness Month Ceremonial Recognition Resolution

of 2021.

        Sec. 2. The Council recognizes and celebrates Public Safety Awareness Month in the

District of Columbia to bring attention to violence in the city, to encourage and support initiatives

to combat violence in general and gun violence in particular.

       Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately.

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