Subject
title
Proclamation Declaring June 7-9, 2024, as National Gun Violence Awareness Day, Weekend and Month in Rockville, Maryland
end
Department
City Clerk/Director of Council Operations Office
Recommendation
Staff Recommends May and Council read and approve the proclamation.
Discussion
National Gun Violence Awareness Day, also known as #WearOrange Day, is on June 7, 2024, the first Friday of the month. The day recognizes the more than 100,000 people killed or wounded by gunfire in the United States each year. The day also kicks off Wear Orange Weekend, which will take place June 7-9, 2024, and will feature virtual and in-person events across the country. Orange is the color that Hadiya Pendleton's friends wore in her honor and is worn throughout the nation to raise awareness about gun violence.
Every day, more than 300 people are directly impacted by gun violence in the United States. Gun Violence Awareness Month was created to draw attention to this tragic reality and demand life-saving change.
Of the 300 largest U.S. cities, cities in states with the strongest gun laws experienced 19.4 percent fewer total gun homicides in 2023 than in 2022, while cities in states with the weakest gun laws saw only 5.1 percent fewer total gun homicides.
Gun violence surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 2021 saw a record number of gun murders-up 45 percent from 2019. Similarly, the 2023 national murder rate is estimated to still be above pre-pandemic levels. And the declines from 2022 are not being felt evenly across the United States. Many U.S. cities are making only marginal public safety improvements or none at all, and new analysis from the Center for American Progress shows that weak state gun laws likely contributed to the lack of progress in those places. Analysis of incident-level data from the Gun Violence Archive reveals that of the 300 largest U.S. cities, cities in states with the strongest gun laws experienced 19.4 percent fewer total gun homicides in 2023 than in 2022, while cities in states with the weakest gun laws saw only 5.1 percent fewer total gun homicides-more than a 14 percent difference between cities in states with the strongest gun laws and those with the weakest gun laws.
Gun Violence in Maryland
In an average year, 743 people die and 1,363 are wounded by guns in Maryland. Maryland has the
25th-highest rate of gun violence in the US.
GUN DEATHS OVER TIME
In Maryland, the rate of gun deaths increased 46% from 2011 to 2020, compared to a 33% increase
nationwide. The rate of gun suicides increased 2% and gun homicides increased 81% compared to a 12% increase and 70% increase nationwide, respectively.
COST OF GUN VIOLENCE
Maryland has the 30th-highest societal cost of gun violence in the US at $1,731 per resident each year. Gun deaths and injuries cost Maryland $10.5 billion each year, of which $383.9 million is paid by taxpayers.
GUN SUICIDES AND SUICIDE ATTEMPTS
Every year, an average of 265 people in Maryland die by gun suicides and 32 are wounded by gun suicide attempts-a rate of 4.1 suicides and 0.5 suicide attempts per 100,000 people. Maryland has the 42nd-highest rate of gun suicides and gun suicide attempts in the US.
GUN HOMICIDES AND ASSAULTS
Every year, an average of 474 people in Maryland die by gun homicides and 551 are wounded by gun
assaults-a rate of 8.3 homicides and 9.1 assaults per 100,000 people. Maryland has the 10th highest rate of gun homicides and gun assaults in the US. In Maryland, 79% of all homicides involve a gun, compared to 76% nationwide.
<https://everystat.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Gun-Violence-in-Maryland-1.pdf>
Mayor and Council History
The Mayor and Council present the National Gun Violence Awareness Month proclamation annually.
Public Notification and Engagement
Event #1 - Wear Orange will be taking place June7-9, 2024. Join everyone wearing orange to honor survivors and building community with those working to end gun violence.
Event #2 - Moms Demand Action group is again holding a Wear Orange gathering this year, on Saturday, June 8, from 11 am to 1 pm at Wheaton Regional Park. As you may know, Wear Orange (or more formally the National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange Weekend) is a nation-wide, annual event that brings people together to recognize the impact of gun violence and to act in solidarity against it. During the one-hour event, we will hear from gun violence survivors and highlight the work of our community partners. A talented local musician will give a brief musical performance. We will then invite everyone to join us on a walk through the park to raise awareness of the problem of gun violence in our community.
You can read more about Wear Orange here: <https://wearorange.org/>