Aproclamation that the Borough ofLewisburg, Union County, Pennsylvania,  shall declare the First Friday in June (June 2, 2023) to be  National Gun Violence Awareness Day  This] proclamation declares the first Fridayi in. June tol bel National Gun Violence Awareness Dayi in thel Borough of Lewisburg, Union County. Inj proclaiming this, we. honor andi remember all victims and survivors of gun violence and declare that, as a community and country, we must do more to reduce and ultimately eliminate gun violence. WHEREAS: Every dayi in America, more than 200 individuals are shot and wounded and more than 120 are. killed by gun violence; Americans are: 261 times morel likely to diel by gun homicide than people in other high-income countries; WHEREAS: In Pennsylvania, there are an average ofi 1,713 gun deaths every year, with a rate of 13.1 deaths per 100,000 people, thereby having the; 33rd highest rate of gun deaths int the US: and costs the state $21.71 billion each year, of which WHEREAS: Gun homicides and assaults are concentrated in more densely populated areas, with more than half of all firearm-related gun deaths in thei nation occurring in 127 cities. Communities across the nation, including Lewisburg WHEREAS: Gun violence prevention is more important than ever: as we see: increases in firearm sales, and increased WHEREAS: Mayors and lawe enforcement officers know their communities best, are the most familiar withl local criminal activity and how to address it, arel best positioned to understand how tol keep their citizens safe, and are dedicated to WHEREAS: Support for the Second Amendment rights ofl law-abiding citizens goes hand-in-hand with keeping guns out WHEREAS: In January 2013, Hadiya Pendleton was tragically shot and killed at age: 15. On June 2, 2023, what would have been her 26th birthday (born: June 2, 1997), people across the United States will recognize National Gun Violence Thei idea wasi inspired by a group of] Hadiya's friends, who asked their classmates to commemorate herl lifel by wearing orange, choosing this color for howi it symbolizes the value of] human! life: hunters wear orange in the woods toj protect WHEREAS: Anyone can join this campaign by pledging to wear orange on June 2nd, thei first Friday in June 2023, to help raise awareness about gun violence and honor thel lives of gun violence victims and survivors andi in doing sO, we renew our commitment toi reducing gun violence and pledge to do all we can tol keep firearms out of the wrong hands NOWTHEREFORE, I, Kendy Alvarez, Mayor oft the Borough of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, with the support of members of Borough Council and the citizens of Lewisburg, dol hereby proclaim thei first Fridayin. June: June: 2, 2023, tol bel National Gun Violence Awareness Dayi in Lewisburg Borough. By proclaiming this, Iencourage all citizens tos support their local communities' efforts to educate one another, put action items into place to] prevent thei tragic effects PROCLAIMED by thel Mayor ofthe Boroughoflewisburg on the: 16th Day of May of the' Year 2023.  $470.7 million is paid) by taxpayers;  Borough, are working to end the senseless violence with evidence-based. solutions;  calls to suicide and domestic violencel hotlines; inl Pennsylvania, 60% of gun deaths are suicides;  protecting publics safetyi in the communities where we: serve;  of thel hands of children and away from people with dangerous histories;  Awareness Day and wear orange ini tributet to (1) Hadiya Pendleton and other victims of gun violence; and (2)1 thel loved ones oft those victims themselves and other hunters;  while encouraging responsible gun ownership and secure storage tol help keep our children safe;  ofg gun violence, and tol honor and value! human lives.  Kendy Alvarez Mayor  &  Borough ofl Lewisburg, Pennsylvania