PRINTER'S NO. 1385
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
223
Session of
2022
INTRODUCED BY HAYWOOD, CAPPELLETTI, FONTANA, SCHWANK, COMITTA
AND KEARNEY, FEBRUARY 9, 2022
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, FEBRUARY 9, 2022
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the week of February 1 through 7, 2022, 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 threatened or wounded with a
gun or having witnessed an act of gun violence or as 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, two
more 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
resulting trauma affected their well-being and ability to
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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, Forty-nine percent 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-eight 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
others; 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
are affected by gun violence and the pain, fear and trauma
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associated with it; and
WHEREAS, Gun violence rose 23% in Pennsylvania in the last 10
years; and
WHEREAS, In 2021 alone, the City of Philadelphia gained 1,846
new gun violence survivors and their families, of which 1,329
survivors were between 18 and 39 years of age; 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 Healing Center in
Philadelphia provides holistic support, including grief support
groups, assistance with paperwork and court advocacy for family
members and friends left in the wake of 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 6
million supporters and 350,000 donors; and
WHEREAS, Everytown for Gun Safety is joined by several other
national nonprofit organizations, including the Brady Campaign
and Giffords Law Center, in the pursuit to end gun violence in
America; and
WHEREAS, A gun violence survivor described their 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
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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 those and their families who
survived gun violence and 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 February 1
through 7, 2022, as "Gun Violence Survivors Week" in
Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize 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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