ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball was joined by local and state officials and by nearly 100 Moms Demand Action advocates Friday evening to mark Gun Violence Awareness Day and kick off “Wear Orange Weekend” to honor victims of gun violence with action. Photos of the event can be found here.
On National Gun Violence Awareness day, we remember the millions of lives taken or altered by gun violence. We’re so grateful for our critical community partners Moms Demand Action advocates, Police Department, gun violence survivors, and students in Howard County who work together toward a future that is free from gun violence.
County Executive Ball also directed the George Howard Building to be lit orange all weekend to honor victims of gun violence.
“Recent events in Buffalo, Uvalde, and again this week in Tulsa, are a strong reminder about the importance of sensible gun control. Every time we hear of another shooting in a school, a place of worship, or at a community gathering, my heart breaks a little more. Every day, more and more innocent lives are taken, and this is unacceptable,” shared Ball.
“We must never give up fighting for gun safety laws, and never give in to normalizing gun violence,” said Delegate Courtney Watson.
“Just like a virus during a pandemic, the epidemic of gun violence knows no borders,” said Senator Clarence Lam. “While we’ve made tremendous strides passing gun safety legislation in Maryland, we’re only as safe as the least restrictive state in the nation, and that’s why we need Congress to take action.”
“Today, we honor and remember the countless victims and survivors of gun violence in the United States,” said Council Vice Chair Christiana Rigby. “As we recognize National Gun Violence Awareness Day, we must continue to push for comprehensive gun control legislation from Congress and work together to reduce gun violence for a safer tomorrow.”
“While Howard County continues to maintain a low crime rate, no community is immune to gun violence,” said Police Chief Gregory Der. “The department’s focus is to acknowledge the reality of gun violence and create a multi-faceted approach to reduce its impact in our communities. We have a tip line for guns and gun violence, 410-313-STOP, and we offer rewards for that information. Tonight, we stand together to support Gun Violence Awareness Day and do our best to prevent senseless, tragic acts of violence.”
“Each Day, 110 Americans are killed by gun violence, alongside more than 200 who are shot and wounded. And Howard County is not an exception to an area traumatized by gun violence,” said Robin Dumont, Howard County Moms Demand Action Co-Lead. “We wear orange as a symbol of the value of each person’s life. We wear orange because it’s the color hunters wear to keep themselves safe. And we wear orange as a tribute to Hadiya Pendleton and all survivors and victims of gun violence, and their loved ones.”
About Moms Demand Action
Moms Demand Action is a grassroots movement of Americans fighting for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence. Moms Demand Action has established a volunteer chapter in every state of the country and Washington, D.C. and is part of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than 8 million supporters. Learn more at https://momsdemandaction.org/.
About Wear Orange
On January 21, 2013, Hadiya Pendleton marched in President Obama’s second inaugural parade. One week later, Hadiya was shot and killed on a playground in Chicago. Soon after this tragedy, Hadiya’s friends commemorated her life by wearing orange, the color hunters wear in the woods to protect themselves and others. Wear Orange is now observed every June. Thousands of people wear the color orange to honor Hadiya and the more than 40,000 people who are killed with guns and approximately 85,000 who are shot and wounded every year. Learn more at https://wearorange.org/.