LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim June 2015 as Gun Violence Awareness Month in the State of New
York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official
months that are set aside to increase awareness of issues that affect
the lives of citizens of New York State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to memo-
rialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2015 as Gun Violence
Awareness Month in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, According to the Department of Criminal Justice Services, in
2013, there were 335 homicides by a firearm in New York City represent-
ing 52% of all murders in the state; and
WHEREAS, Gun violence continues to be a devastating crisis throughout
the state with an increase of shootings and murders typically occurring
in the summer months; and
WHEREAS, The Center for Disease Control reports gun deaths in urban
areas are much more likely to be homicides, while suicide is far and
away the dominant form of gun death in rural areas; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, Caucasian Americans are far more likely to shoot
themselves, and African Americans are far more likely to be shot by
someone else; and
WHEREAS, According to the New York Police Department, African Ameri-
cans, who represent 23% of New York City's population, made up 63.8% of
the murder victims and 73.9% of the shooting victims from January to
June 2013; and
WHEREAS, African American men between the ages of 16 and 37 comprise
40% of those murdered in New York City in 2012, and 86% of these young
men were killed with a firearm, a statistic showing that a dispropor-
tionate share of gun violence continues to be experienced by members of
our minority community; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Criminal Justice Services affirms in 2012,
firearms accounted for 31.1% of domestic violence incidents in the State
of New York, and 27.5% of domestic violence incidents in New York City;
and
WHEREAS, The damage caused by gun violence is not limited to gender,
race, sexual orientation or ethnicity; and
WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this serious issue including prevention, intervention, education and
outreach; and
WHEREAS, Increased awareness and coordination among all stakeholders
is critical to the prevention of gun violence, the equal protection of
our citizens, and to ensure our state's safety for our youth; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2015 as Gun
Violence Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.