DELAWARE STATE SENATE

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 68

RECOGNIZING THE FIRST FULL WEEK IN JUNE AS "DELAWARE GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION WEEK" IN DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, since the onset of COVID-19, the United States has seen a rise in gun violence and increased gun violence, particularly among first-time owners, which have greatly increased the risk of child gun suicide and unintentional shootings; and

WHEREAS, an estimated 4.6 million United States children live in households with at least one loaded, unlocked firearm; and

WHEREAS, according to Everytown for Gun Safety nearly 350 children under the age of 18 unintentionally shoot themselves or someone else every year, roughly one unintentional shooting per day, and 77% of these incidents occur inside a home; and

WHEREAS, every year in the United States, another 590 children die by gun suicide, most often using guns belonging to a family member, and over the past decade the firearm suicide rate among children and teenagers has increased 59%; and

WHEREAS, in incidents of gun violence on school grounds, 79% of active shooters are current students or recent graduates, and 80% of shooters under the age of 18 obtained their guns from their own home or the home of a relative or friend; and

WHEREAS, evidence strongly suggests that secure firearm storage is an essential component to any effective strategy to keeping students and schools safe, and research shows that secure firearm storage practices are associated with up to an 85% reduction in the risk of self-inflicted and unintentional firearm injuries among children and teenagers; and

WHEREAS, statistics from the John Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health show gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in Delaware; and

WHEREAS, according to 2020 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Delaware was ranked 25 ^th out of 50 states with the highest gun death rates; and

WHEREAS, across the state, policymakers, community members, and local leaders are working together to implement public awareness campaigns which encourage secure gun storage practices and highlights the public safety risks of unsecured guns.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the 152 ^nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, in recognition of Delaware’s Gun Violence Awareness Week, the General Assembly renews our commitment to reduce gun violence, pledge to store all firearms securely, and encourage gun owners in our State to be safe and responsible.

SYNOPSIS

This resolution proclaims the first full week of June as the "Delaware Gun Violence Prevention Week" in the State of Delaware, in which we remember and honor all survivors of gun violence and ask that all Delawareans consider ways that we as a community can reduce gun violence - including storing all firearms securely.

Author: Senator Sturgeon