Tinley To Join 'National Gun Violence Awareness Day' Movement

TINLEY PARK, IL — Village officials are expected to mark June 7 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day, joining a national movement aimed at honoring victims of gun violence while promoting gun safety.

The movement was inspired by the friends of Hadiya Pendleton, who was shot in January 2013 in a Chicago park weeks after marching in former President Barack Obama's second inaugural parade, and has since become a national symbol of gun violence. On June 7, also known as "Wear Orange Day," supporters commemorate Pendleton's life by wearing orange, which is said to symbolize the value of human life. It is also in recognition of hunters who wear orange to announce themselves to other hunters in the field.

Nearly 100 Americans are killed by gun violence every day, and nearly 40,000
people died by guns in the United States in 2017, statistics from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show.

Mayor Jacob Vandenberg is the sponsor of the resolution proclaiming Tinley's support of National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

“I support both the Second Amendment and the right of law-abiding citizens to own firearms. This proclamation promotes gun safety and responsible ownership in the Village of Tinley Park," he said.

"I firmly believe, as the proclamation states, that one of the highest responsibilities of elected officials is to provide tools and awareness for public safety. That includes awareness around gun violence and responsible ownership.”

The proclamation, which trustees are expected to approve at tonight's board meeting, states that "ensuring public safety is a core responsibility of elected and civic officials...and "support for the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens goes hand-in-hand with limiting firearm access to those with dangerous histories."

As part of the recognition, Tinley residents are encouraged to wear orange on June 7 and to "help reduce gun violence by encouraging responsible gun ownership and promoting awareness of said violence."