Madison Marks National Gun Violence Awareness Day on June 5

MADISON, NJ — Madison Mayor Robert H. Conley proclaimed June 5 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day in the Borough of Madison, joining communities across the country in recognizing the first Friday in June as a day to honor victims and survivors of gun violence.

The proclamation, issued on behalf of the mayor and governing body, cited statistics noting that more than 125 Americans are killed by gun violence every day and that firearms are the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 1 and 19. Officials acknowledged that gun violence carries lasting emotional, physical, and economic effects on individuals, families, and communities nationwide.

The day is rooted in the story of Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old who was shot and killed on a Chicago playground in 2013, just one week after she marched in President Barack Obama's second inaugural parade. Friends commemorated her life by wearing orange — the color hunters wear in the woods for safety — and the tradition grew into a national awareness campaign.

Residents were encouraged to participate in the Wear Orange movement by donning orange on June 5 to show support for safer communities and remember those affected by gun violence. The proclamation noted that support for Second Amendment rights and efforts to keep guns away from people with dangerous histories are complementary goals in the pursuit of public safety.

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