Florida Senate - 2014 (NP) SR 1418 By Senator Bullard 39-01218-14 20141418__ 1 Senate Resolution 2 A resolution recognizing the month of June 2014 as 3 “Gun Violence Awareness Month” in Florida. 4 5 WHEREAS, in 2012, 721 homicides in this state were 6 committed by use of firearms, representing 71.4 percent of the 7 total number of homicides committed, and 8 WHEREAS, in that same year, 13,455 aggravated assaults in 9 this state were committed by use of firearms, representing 22.8 10 percent of all aggravated assaults committed, and 11 WHEREAS, gun violence continues to be a devastating crisis 12 throughout this state and the nation, with firearm homicide the 13 leading cause of death nationwide for African Americans between 14 1 and 44 years of age, and 15 WHEREAS, minority communities continue to be 16 disproportionately affected by gun violence, and 17 WHEREAS, guns are the most common weapons used in acts of 18 domestic violence against women, and access to firearms 19 increases the risk of homicide by more than 5 times, and 20 WHEREAS, it is imperative that public awareness of gun 21 violence be raised at the local, state, and national levels, and 22 WHEREAS, increased awareness and coordination among all of 23 the stakeholders is critical to the prevention of gun violence, 24 the equal protection of all citizens, and the safety of our 25 children and youth, and 26 WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Legislature that this 27 resolution will inspire a necessary discussion in communities 28 across this state of gun violence and public and private 29 programs aimed at prevention, intervention, education, and 30 outreach, NOW, THEREFORE, 31 32 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 33 34 That the month of June 2014 is recognized as “Gun Violence 35 Awareness Month” in Florida. 36 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be 37 presented to the Governor as a tangible token of the sentiments 38 expressed in this resolution.