Subject
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Proclamation Declaring June 5, 2026, as National Gun Violence Awareness Day, June 5-7, 2026, as Awareness Weekend, and June 2026 Awareness Month in Rockville, Maryland
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Department
City Clerk/Director of Council Operations Office
Recommendation
Staff recommend the Mayor and Council read, approve, and present proclamation to Maria Pekala, Maryland Chapter, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and other Chapter members.
Discussion
National Gun Violence Awareness Day, also known as #WearOrange Day, is on June 5, 2026, 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 5-7, 2026, and will feature virtual and in-person events across the country. Orange is the color 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. Every day, nearly 130 people in the United States are killed with guns, and more than twice as many are shot and wounded, and countless others are impacted by acts of gun violence.
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. Analysis of incident-level data from the Gun Violence Archive reveals 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
The Maryland Department of Health Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention created a Maryland Firearm Violence Data Dashboard. From the dashboard, we can learn important statistics about gun violence in our state. In 2024, Maryland experienced 671 firearm fatalities, including homicides, suicides, and unintentional shootings. The gun violence rate in the state has gone down by about 17% over the last five years (2020-2024).
According to data released by the U.S Attorney’s Office in Baltimore, Maryland saw a major reduction in violent crimes in 2024. Statewide violent crime from 2021 to 2024 is down:
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Maryland Statewide Violent Crimes - 2021 - 2024 |
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2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
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Homicides |
659 |
599 |
519 |
455 |
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Non-Fatal |
1332 |
1287 |
1190 |
891 |
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|
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There is more good news!
In 2025, Maryland saw a reduction in gun violence, with homicides and non-fatal shootings decreasing in Baltimore. The Baltimore Police Department reported a 23% decrease in homicides and a 34% decrease in non-fatal shootings in Baltimore City. Statewide, homicides decreased by 32% since 2021, with Baltimore City experiencing a 41% decrease.
Additional Statistics:
Homicides: In 2025, there were 608 fatalities caused by firearms in Maryland; among those deaths, 45.4% were homicides and 52.6% were suicides.
Suicides: In 2025, 51% of all suicides involved firearms. 1 out of every 5 firearm suicides involved a long gun, such as a rifle or a shotgun.
Non-fatal shootings: In 2025, there were 644 Emergency Department visits for non-fatal firearms-related injuries.
Youth Victims: Montgomery County has recently experienced gun violence in its schools.
Victims’ Families: Firearm violence has a devastating effect on victims, family, friends, and the community.
While numbers are trending down, there is still work to be done to totally eradicate gun violence in Maryland and throughout America.
Mayor and Council History
The Mayor and Council proclaim this proclamation annually.
Public Notification and Engagement
Event #1 - Wear Orange will take place on Friday, June 6, 2026. Join everyone wearing orange to honor survivors and build community with those working to end gun violence.