Gun Violence Awareness Month Recognition Resolution of 2026

26th Council Period (2025-2026) Introduced by Brooke Pinto

Declares June 2026 as Gun Violence Awareness Month in DC and urges community support for prevention efforts to reduce gun violence and protect lives.

Resolution ACR26-0159, Effective from Jun 02, 2026 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 009243

Purpose and intent

Establishes June 2026 as "Gun Violence Awareness Month" in the District of Columbia.

Recognizes national efforts to raise awareness about gun violence and honors victims, with a focus on reducing gun violence and affirming the value of human life.

Encourages District residents to support local prevention efforts and community safety initiatives.

Key provisions and changes

Sec. 2: Declaration that the month of June 2026 is Gun Violence Awareness Month in DC.

Sec. 3: Effective date; the resolution takes effect immediately.

Sec. 1 (preamble) includes statements recognizing:

Acknowledgement of Hadiya Pendleton’s story and the National Gun Violence Awareness Day/Mont designations.
National statistics on gun-related fatalities and injuries.
Disproportionate impact of gun violence on Black residents in DC.
The District’s progress in reducing gun offenses from 431 (2025) to 103 (2026) and the need for continued investment in comprehensive prevention strategies.
Calls for public safety investments spanning housing, education, economic opportunity, health care, trauma healing, and violence intervention services.

The resolution is ceremonial in nature and does not impose new regulatory or fiscal obligations.

Who/what is affected

District of Columbia residents and communities are the primary audience and beneficiaries, as the resolution aims to acknowledge Gun Violence Awareness Month and encourage community engagement.

Public agencies and community organizations involved in gun violence prevention, trauma support, housing, education, health care, and violence interruption initiatives are implicitly encouraged to participate in awareness and prevention efforts.

The resolution’s impact is largely symbolic and aspirational, signaling political support for ongoing prevention work.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduced by Councilmember Brooke Pinto and co-sponsored by her, with other councilmembers listed as sponsors.

Action history shows:

Introduced on June 1, 2026.
Retained by the Council on June 2, 2026 (indicating it did not proceed to final passage immediately and will require further action or a later vote).

As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new programs, funding, or regulatory requirements, but it may bolster public awareness and support for existing gun violence prevention efforts.

Summary

CER 26-0163 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing June 2026 as Gun Violence Awareness Month in the District of Columbia. It honors national and local efforts to combat gun violence, highlights the disproportionate impact on Black residents, and notes the District’s progress in reducing gun offenses while calling for continued investments in comprehensive prevention and community safety. The resolution urges residents to support local prevention work and takes effect immediately, though it is subject to Council action following its introduction and retention.