"Moms Demand Action" Mark Gun Violence Awareness Day, Wear Orange Weekend In Howard Co.

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Friday night, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball was joined by local and state officials and nearly 100 Moms Demand Action advocates to mark Gun Violence Awareness Day and kick off “Wear Orange Weekend” to honor victims of gun violence with action.

“On National Gun Violence Awareness day, we remember the millions of lives taken or altered by gun violence,” Ball said at the event. “We’re so grateful for our critical community partners Moms Demand Action advocates, police department, gun violence survivors and students in Howard County who work together toward a future that is free from gun violence.”

Ball also directed the George Howard Building to be lit orange all weekend to honor victims of gun violence.

“Recent events in Buffalo, Uvalde and again this week in Tulsa are a strong reminder about the importance of sensible gun control. Every time we hear of another shooting in a school, a place of worship, or at a community gathering, my heart breaks a little more. Every day, more and more innocent lives are taken, and this is unacceptable,” Ball said.

“We must never give up fighting for gun safety laws, and never give in to normalizing gun violence,” added Maryland Delegate Courtney Watson.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, Maryland reported 803 shooting deaths in 2020, up from the 757 shooting deaths reported in 2019.

“Just like a virus during a pandemic, the epidemic of gun violence knows no borders,” Council Chair Opel Jones noted during the event. “While we’ve made tremendous strides passing gun safety legislation in Maryland, we’re only as safe as the least restrictive state in the nation and that’s why we need Congress to take action.”

Howard County Police Chief Gregory Der noted that the county continues to hold on to a low crime rate, no community "is immune to gun violence."

“The department’s focus is to acknowledge the reality of gun violence and create a multi-faceted approach to reduce its impact in our communities. We have a tip line for guns and gun violence, 410-313-STOP, and we offer rewards for that information. Tonight, we stand together to support Gun Violence Awareness Day and do our best to prevent senseless, tragic acts of violence," Der said at the event.

Howard County Moms Demand Action Co-Lead Robin Dumont shared that every day, 110 Americans are killed by gun violence and an additional 200 or more are shot or wounded.

“Howard County is not an exception to an area traumatized by gun violence,” Dumont said. “We wear orange as a symbol of the value of each person’s life. We wear orange because it’s the color hunters wear to keep themselves safe. And we wear orange as a tribute to Hadiya Pendleton and all survivors and victims of gun violence, and their loved ones.”