WHEREAS, The first Friday in June is the observance of National Gun Violence Awareness Day and the kickoff to “Wear Orange Weekend.”; and
WHEREAS, by wearing orange June 2-4th 2023, Americans can raise awareness about gun violence and honor the lives of gun violence victims and survivors; and
WHEREAS, orange has become the defining color of the gun violence prevention movement; and
WHEREAS, “Wear Orange” was inspired by the friends of Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old Chicago student killed by gunfire in 2013. Her friends honor her life by wearing orange on her birthday. Orange was Hadiya’s favorite color and orange is also the color hunters wear to announce themselves to other hunters for safety; and
WHEREAS, access to a firearm is the common denominator in every firearm -related death or injury. firearms are involved in more than half of suicides and more than two-thirds of homicides in the United States; and
WHEREAS, deaths and injuries from firearms pose a substantial risk to public health. Every day, Americans are killed with guns and are shot and wounded. These survivors are faced with a life-long process of physical and emotional healing; and
WHEREAS, today we spend this day honoring and remembering all victims and survivors of gun violence and renew our commitment to reduce gun violence nationwide and encourage responsible gun ownership.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Vicki Tesoro, by virtue of the authority vested in me as First Selectman of the Town of Trumbull, Connecticut do hereby proclaim June 2, 2023 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Town of Trumbull to be affixed on the 2nd day of June in the year 2023.
Vicki Tesoro, First Selectman