Last year on June 2, hundreds of cities and towns across the country turned orange. That’s because June 2 is National Gun Violence Awareness Day, a time for Americans to come together and wear orange – the color associated with gun violence prevention – to show our elected leaders that we care about reducing gun violence and want change.
Across the country, an average of 93 Americans are killed with guns each day and hundreds more are injured, yet little has been done to help prevent gun violence.
Gun Violence Awareness Day began with a group of Chicago teens who wanted to honor the life of their friend, Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old honor student who had just returned home from marching in President Obama’s second inaugural parade. She was killed one week later by random gunfire near her home and her friends asked supporters to wear orange in remembrance.
This year, Durango has joined over 150 cities across the country, with our Mayor’s Proclamation signed this month declaring June 2 as “Durango Gun Violence Awareness Day,” a movement championed by Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety.
Of course, you don’t have to be a “mom” to join Moms Demand Action. More than 3 million mayors, moms, dads, policemen, teachers, survivors, gun owners and everyday Americans have come together in this non-partisan group, with chapters in all 50 states, because they know we must take steps to reduce gun violence if we want to make our communities safe for our families.
Moms Demand Action supports the Second Amendment and believes that common-sense solutions can help reduce the tragedy of gun violence that kills too many of our children and loved ones every day. When children get ahold of unsecured guns, the results are often fatal. Every 36 hours, a child unintentionally fires a gun and kills or injures himself, herself or someone else. And that doesn’t include the number of suicides that occur when teens have access to unsecured guns.
Already this year in Durango, we have had nine suicides, and firearms were used in seven of them. In 2012, nearly two-thirds of all firearm deaths were suicides, and the number is rising. Of all those who attempt suicide, 9 percent die – but, of those who attempt suicide with a gun, 85 percent die. We are thankful for the suicide prevention community summit effort begun by San Juan Basin Public Health, but there is so much more that needs to be done.
In a country where one in three homes report having a firearm present, there is a role for all of us in protecting children and teens from gun violence. If you own a gun, make smart decisions about safe storage. If you don’t own a gun, there’s a good chance that your child’s friend or classmate has a gun in his or her home.
Just as you ask other parents what television shows their children watch, or who will be home to supervise the kids, you should be aware of the presence of guns in the homes where your children play and how those guns are stored.
Since 2015, Moms Demand Action volunteers have been spreading the message about responsible gun storage in their communities with the “Be SMART” campaign, asking parents and all responsible adults to help prevent these tragedies by following five simple steps:
Secure guns in homes and vehicles. Model responsible behavior around guns. Ask about the presence of guns in other homes. Recognize the risks of teen suicide. Tell peers to Be SMART. The overwhelming majority of Americans, including most gun owners, agree that it is time for a common-sense approach to gun safety, where the rights of law-abiding gun owners are protected and everyone can live without the fear of gun violence.
While we’re still asking supporters to wear orange on June 2, we also want to make it as easy as possible for everyone to show up to support this effort, so we’re extending the commemoration of this day to Saturday,, June 3.
Hundreds of “WearOrange” events across the country will be held on June 3, including a “WearOrange” rally at Buckley Park at 4 p.m. See you there.
Carol Cure is co-chair of Indivisible Durango Gun Safety Committee and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense Durango. Reach her at carolcure@gmail.com.
