Rep. Wittenberg offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 359.

            A resolution to declare June 1, 2018, as Gun Violence Awareness Day in the state of Michigan.

            Whereas, Every day, 96 Americans are killed by gun violence and on average there are nearly 13,000 gun homicides every year; and

            Whereas, Americans are 25 times more likely to be killed with guns than people in other developed countries; and

            Whereas, Protecting public safety in the communities they serve is legislators’ highest responsibility; and

            Whereas, Support for the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens goes hand-in-hand with keeping guns away from dangerous people; and

            Whereas, Law enforcement officers know their communities best, are the most familiar with local criminal activity and how to address it, and are best positioned to understand how to keep their citizens safe; and

            Whereas, In January 2013, Hadiya Pendleton, a teenager who marched in President Obama’s second inaugural parade and was tragically shot and killed just weeks later, should be now celebrating her 21st birthday. To help honor Hadiya – and the 96 Americans whose lives are cut short and the countless survivors who are injured by shootings every day – a national coalition of organizations has designated June 1, 2018, the first Friday in June, as the 4th 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. They chose this color because hunters wear orange to announce themselves to other hunters when out in the woods and orange is a color that symbolizes the value of human life; and

            Whereas, Anyone can join this campaign by pledging to Wear Orange on June 1, the first Friday in June in 2018, to help raise awareness about gun violence; and

            Whereas, By wearing orange on June 1, 2018, Americans will raise awareness about gun violence and honor the lives of gun violence victims and survivors; and

            Whereas, We renew our commitment to reduce gun violence and pledge to do all we can to keep firearms out of the wrong hands and encourage responsible gun ownership to help keep our children safe; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare June 1, 2018, as Gun Violence Awareness Day in the state of Michigan. We encourage all citizens to support their local communities’ efforts to prevent the tragic effects of gun violence and to honor and value human lives.  We remember all victims and survivors.