Governor Gretchen Whitmer is a lifelong Michigander. She is a lawyer, an educator, former prosecutor, State Representative and Senator. She was the first woman to lead a Senate caucus. But the most important title she boasts is MOM. Inspired by her family, she’s devoted her life to building a stronger Michigan for everyone.
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June 07, 2019
WHEREAS, every day, 100 Americans are killed by gun violence and countless others are wounded; and,
WHEREAS, Americans are 25 times more likely to be killed with guns than people in other high-income countries, and American teenagers are 82 times more likely to die from a gun homicide than their international peers; and,
WHEREAS, protecting public safety in the communities they serve is among a governor’s highest responsibilities; and,
WHEREAS, recognizing that the Second Amendment rights guaranteed by the constitution of law-abiding citizens go hand-in-hand with keeping firearms out of the hands of those who would seek to harm others or themselves; and,
WHEREAS, June 2019 would have marked the 22nd birthday of Hadiya Pendleton, a teenager who marched in President Obama’s second inaugural parade and was tragically shot and killed just weeks later; and,
WHEREAS, to help honor Hadiya, and the 100 Americans whose lives are cut short and the countless others who are wounded by gun violence every day, June 7, 2019, has been designated as the 5th National Gun Violence Awareness Day; and,
WHEREAS, the idea was inspired by a group of Hadiya’s friends, who asked their classmates to commemorate her life by wearing orange, chosen in recognition of the color hunters wear to protect themselves and others, and orange is a color that has been embraced by the gun safety movement, because it symbolizes the value of human life; and,
WHEREAS, by wearing orange and commemorating National Gun Violence Awareness Day on June 7, Americans will raise awareness of gun violence and honor the lives and lost human potential of Americans stolen by gun violence; and,
WHEREAS, we renew our commitment to reduce gun violence and commit to do all we can to ensure those who would seek to harm others or themselves do not have access to firearms and encourage responsible gun ownership to help keep our children safe;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim June 7, 2019, as Gun Violence Awareness Day in Michigan and encourage all citizens to support their communities to prevent the tragic effects of gun violence and to honor and value human lives.