National Gun Violence Awareness Day — F.1

300 Railroad St. PO Box 259 Tiffin, IA 52340 P. 319-545-2572 F. 319-545-4147 www.tiffin-iowa.org PROCLAMATION BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF TIFFIN 2026 CITY PROCLAMATION DECLARING THE FIRST FRIDAY IN JUNE TO BE NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY This proclamation declares the first Friday in June to be National Gun Violence Awareness Day in the City of Tiffin to honor and remember all victims and survivors of gun violence and to declare that we as a country must do more to end this public health crisis. WHEREAS, every day, nearly 130 people in the United States are killed by gun violence and more than 200 are shot and wounded, with an average of more than 19,000 gun homicides every year; and WHEREAS, people in the United States are 26 times more likely to die by gun homicide than people in other high-income countries; and WHEREAS, in Iowa an average year has 362 gun deaths, with a rate of 11.2 deaths per 100,000 people, a crisis that costs the state $4.2 billion each year, of which $53 million is paid by taxpayers. Iowa has the 41st highest rate of gun deaths in the US; and WHEREAS, gun homicides and assaults are concentrated in cities, with more than half of all gun homicides in the nation occurring in 42 cities; and WHEREAS, cities across the nation, including in Tiffin, are working to end the senseless violence with evidence-based solutions; and WHEREAS, protecting public safety in the communities they serve is mayors’ highest responsibility; and WHEREAS, support for the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens goes hand-in-hand with keeping guns away from those who are a danger to themselves or others; and WHEREAS, mayors, councilmembers, and law enforcement officers — in partnership with local violence intervention activists and resources — know their communities best, are the most familiar with local criminal activity and how to address it, and are best positioned to understand how to keep their citizens safe; and WHEREAS, gun violence prevention is more important than ever as we see gun violence continue to impact communities across the country;