1Designating December 2013 as "Children and Gun Violence
2Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania and encouraging the
3remembrance of children victims of gun violence.

4WHEREAS, The United States experiences epidemic levels of gun
5violence, claiming over 30,000 lives annually, according to the
6United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and

7WHEREAS, The Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence states that
8children and young adults, who are under 24 years of age,
9constitute 38% of all firearm deaths and nonfatal injuries in
10the United States, and 18 children and young adults die each day
11in the United States from firearm injuries; and

12WHEREAS, According to the Children's Defense Fund, between
13the years 2000 and 2010, 1,356 children and teenagers were
14killed by guns in Pennsylvania; and

15WHEREAS, On December 14, 2012, this nation suffered the most
16deadly school shooting in its history when 20 children and six

1adult staff members were fatally shot at Sandy Hook Elementary
2School in Newtown, Connecticut; and

3WHEREAS, In the 12 months since the tragic shooting at Sandy
4Hook Elementary School, 17 more school shootings have taken
5place in the United States, including one in Pennsylvania; and

6WHEREAS, As elected officials, it is our duty to protect our
7children; therefore be it

8RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate
9December 2013 as "Children and Gun Violence Awareness Month" in
10Pennsylvania and urge the residents of this Commonwealth to
11remember all the children who tragically lost their lives
12through gun violence.