City of Simpsonville
Proclamation
DECLARING THE FIRST FRIDAY IN JUNE TO BE NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY
This proclamation declares the first Friday in June to be National Gun Violence Awareness Day in the City of Simpsonville, SC to honor and remember all victims and survivors of gun violence and to declare that we as a country must do more to end this public health crisis.
WHEREAS, every day, 125 people in the United States are killed by gun violence and more than 260 are shot and wounded, with an average of more than 19,000 gun homicides every year; and
WHEREAS, people in the United States are 26 times more likely to die by gun homicide than people in other high-income countries; and
WHEREAS, South Carolina has 1,081 gun deaths every year, with a rate of 20.9 deaths per 100,000 people, a crisis that costs the state $14.0 billion each year, of which $371.9 million is paid by taxpayers. South Carolina has the 12th highest rate of gun deaths in the US; and
WHEREAS, gun homicides and assaults are concentrated in cities, with more than half of all gun homicides in the nation occurring in 42 cities; and
WHEREAS, cities across the nation, including in Simpsonville, SC are working to end the senseless violence with evidence-based solutions; and
WHEREAS, protecting public safety in the communities they serve is mayors’ highest responsibility; and
WHEREAS, support for the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens goes hand-in-hand with keeping guns away from those who are a danger to themselves or others; and
WHEREAS, mayors, councilmembers, and law enforcement officers — in partnership with local violence intervention activists and resources — 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, gun violence prevention is more important than ever as we see gun violence continue to impact communities across the country;
WHEREAS, in January 2013, Hadiya Pendleton was tragically shot and killed at age 15; and on June 6, 2025, to recognize the 28th birthday of Hadiya Pendleton (born: June 2, 1997), people across the United States will recognize National Gun Violence Awareness Day and wear orange in tribute to —
(1) Hadiya Pendleton and other victims of gun violence; and
(2) the loved ones of those victims; 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 6th, the first Friday in June 2025, to help raise awareness about gun violence; and
WHEREAS, by wearing orange on June 6, 2025, people across the United States 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 hands of people who should not have access to them and encourage responsible gun ownership to help keep our families and communities safe.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Mayor Paul Shewmaker of the city of Simpsonville, SC declares the first Friday in June, June 6, 2025, to be
NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY
and encourage all citizens to support their local communities’ efforts to prevent the tragic effects of gun violence and to honor and value human lives.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Simpsonville to be affixed this 1st day of June, 2025.
Paul D. ShewmakerPaul Shewmaker, Mayor
