And as a reminder, here is the proclamation from the City of Chelsea.
WHEREAS, the City of Chelsea is committed to enhancing the safety and well-being of all Chelsea residents and public safety can be increased by raising awareness and educating residents about how to keep themselves and their families safe; and
WHEREAS, specifically educating the public and increasing knowledge about gun safety issues and encouraging responsible gun ownership can help protect our communities and our families; and provides a public service which benefits everyone, especially our children; and
WHEREAS, though national attention is often drawn only to large scale tragedies, gun violence is a serious local as well as national problem, as gun violence and injuries occur daily throughout too many of our municipalities; and
WHEREAS, Michigan’s overall firearm deaths from 2001-2010 were 10,825 (10.83 per 100,000 residents), Michigan’s firearm suicides in 2010 were 601 (6.08 per 100,000 residents), Michigan’s firearm deaths for children ages 0-17 from 2001-2010 were 555 (2.23 per 100,000 residents), Michigan’s law-enforcement agents feloniously killed with a firearm from 2002 to 2011 reached 15 (0.15 per 100,000 residents) and Michigan’s aggravated assaults with a firearm in 2011 were 7,679 (86.41 per 100,000 residents) (from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s “Fatal Injury Data,”); and
WHEREAS, guns are the most common weapon used in domestic violence against women and access to firearms increases the risk of homicide by more than 5 times, and individuals suffering from mental illness are at greater risk of being perpetrators or victims of gun violence, especially suicide, recognition of early warning signs and knowledge of how to respond can reduce gun violence and potentially save lives; and
WHEREAS, during the week of July 20, 2014 through July 26, 2014 and throughout the year the Chelsea Police Department will be providing free gun locks and gun safety information to members of the public and collaborating with community organizations to enhance public knowledge and promote gun safety.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Chelsea City Council, in order to increase public safety and awareness about gun safety, hereby declares the week of July 20, 2014 through July 26, 2014 as Gun Safety Week in the City of Chelsea.
