TO RAISE AWARENESS SURROUNDING THE ISSUE OF GUN VIOLENCE AND TO DECLARE JUNE 2015 GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.

Whereas, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 81,300 nonfatal injuries and 31,672 deaths involving guns occur every year. This works out to about three hundred eight shootings and eighty-six deaths every day; and

Whereas, guns are the most common weapon used in domestic violence against women, and access to firearms increases the risk of homicide by more than five times; and

Whereas, it is imperative that there be greater public awareness of this serious issue, and more must be done to increase activity at the local, state, and national levels; and

Whereas, various options are open to this State in dealing with gun violence, one of the most effective being the utilization of a public-health approach. Public-health programs have dramatically reduced lung cancer by preventing smoking. Automobile accidents are curtailed by traffic regulations, safer cars, and driver training. Real violence prevention cannot wait until there is a gunman at the door but must start before problems escalate into violence. For example, there are numerous controlled studies demonstrating that school-based counseling and violence-prevention programs are effective at teaching students how to resolve conflicts and problems without resorting to violence. Prevention must begin early to be most effective; and

Whereas, this resolution, the first of its kind in South Carolina, will inspire a necessary discussion in our community on how we can harness our resources to reduce gun violence and improve our state's programs in prevention, intervention, education, and outreach. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, raise awareness surrounding the issue of gun violence and declare June 2015 Gun Violence Awareness Month.