PRINTER'S NO. 1373
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
236
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY HAYWOOD, CAPPELLETTI, HUGHES, KEARNEY, FONTANA,
SCHWANK, TARTAGLIONE, KANE, SANTARSIERO AND STREET,
FEBRUARY 12, 2024
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, FEBRUARY 12, 2024
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the week of January 22 through 26, 2024, as "Gun
Violence Survivors Week" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Gun violence, whether intentional or unintentional,
involves the use of a firearm to commit violent acts, such as
armed robbery, aggravated assault, suicide, homicide, domestic
violence and mass shootings; and
WHEREAS, A gun violence survivor is anyone who has personally
experienced gun violence, whether having been threatened or
wounded with a gun or having witnessed an act of gun violence,
or a family member or friend of someone who was wounded or
killed as a result of gun violence; and
WHEREAS, For every person who dies from gun violence, more
than two survive; and
WHEREAS, Nine out of ten gun violence survivors report
experiencing trauma from the incident; and
WHEREAS, Among those persons who experienced gun violence
within the last 12 months, more than half indicated the
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resulting trauma affected their well-being and ability to
function; and
WHEREAS, Half of survivors reported that they experienced gun
violence in a home, whether their own or that of a neighbor,
friend or family member; and
WHEREAS, Nurses, doctors and medical or hospital staff were
the most likely to say they experienced the impact of gun
violence through their work, followed by school employees, such
as teachers and staff; and
WHEREAS, Two-thirds of survivors are in need of mental health
services, therapy and support; and
WHEREAS, Nearly half of survivors require crime victim legal
assistance; and
WHEREAS, For 40% of survivors, financial assistance is
necessary to deal with medical expenses, such as physical
therapy, rehabilitation services and surgical equipment; and
WHEREAS, Home health care is needed for one in four
survivors; and
WHEREAS, Seven percent of survivors need assistance to cover
funeral-related expenses; and
WHEREAS, Fifty-nine percent of American adults have been
impacted by gun violence in their lifetime; and
WHEREAS, Three million children are affected by gun violence
every year; and
WHEREAS, Currently, more than 1 million women living in the
United States have been shot or shot at by their significant
other; and
WHEREAS, Nearly 3.7 million women in the United States have
been threatened with a gun by their significant other; and
WHEREAS, In an average year, 1,574 families and communities
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are affected by gun violence and the pain, fear and trauma
associated with it; and
WHEREAS, Gun violence rose more than 20% in Pennsylvania in
the last 10 years; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the devastating human cost, every
year gun violence costs the Pennsylvania economy $567 million;
and
WHEREAS, The Every Murder Is Real (EMIR) Healing Center in
Philadelphia provides a holistic and trauma-informed approach to
healing for those left in the wake of gun violence; and
WHEREAS, EMIR provides many services to support and assist
families and communities, including individual and group grief
support, assistance with victim compensation and education and
navigation through the criminal justice system; and
WHEREAS, Mothers In Charge is a group of impassioned mothers,
grandmothers, aunts, sisters and others who are committed to
working toward saving lives through providing counseling and
grief support services for families who have been impacted by
gun violence; and
WHEREAS, Moms Demand Action is a national network of parents,
families, students and concerned citizens dedicated to keeping
families safe, encouraging responsible gun ownership and
advocating for common-sense gun safety legislation; and
WHEREAS, Moms Demand Action, along with Mayors Against
Illegal Guns, Students Demand Action and the Everytown Survivor
Network, is part of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun
violence prevention organization in the country, with nearly 10
million supporters and more than 350,000 donors; and
WHEREAS, Everytown for Gun Safety is joined by several other
national nonprofit organizations, including the Brady Campaign
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and Giffords Law Center, in the pursuit to end gun violence in
America; and
WHEREAS, A gun violence survivor described the personal
trauma as follows: "Dealing with the inconsistencies of healing,
both physically and emotionally. The existence of being this
gray person in a world where everyone else sees everything as
black and white. I'm either completely fine and it's over and
done, or I'm this wounded person who can never be functional -
the lack of understanding that I am not really either, but some
days may be one or the other"; and
WHEREAS, "Gun Violence Survivors Week" is an acknowledgment
of the pain and suffering felt by survivors of gun violence who
continue to live with that trauma; and
WHEREAS, By recognizing "Gun Violence Survivors Week," the
Commonwealth joins communities across America to raise awareness
of its broad impact on society and express empathy to those who
have endured pain as a result of a firearm; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the week of January 22
through 26, 2024, as "Gun Violence Survivors Week" in
Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize EMIR, Mothers In Charge,
Moms Demand Action and other gun violence prevention
organizations for their efforts in addressing gun violence and
in the pursuit of building safer communities for the residents
of this Commonwealth and citizens of this country.
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