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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2016.03.30 - 22268MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #16084 BY: Commissioners Michael Spisz, District #3; Bill Dwyer, District #14; Marcia Gershenson, District #13 r,-SC.r) IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — DESIGNATION OF JUNE 2016 AS NATIONAL SAFETY MONTH IN OAKLAND COUNTY AND SUPPORT OF EFFORTS TO PROMOTE FIREARMS SAFETY To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen: WHEREAS the National Safety Council (NSC), a nonprofit, nongovernmental public service organization dedicated to protecting life and promoting health in the United States of America, established National Safety Month to increase awareness of the leading safety and health risks and ultimately decrease the number of unintentional injuries and deaths ; and WHEREAS each June, communities throughout the nation take time to recognize and support the many innovative programs and positive efforts being undertaken to promote the safety of individuals; and WHEREAS unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death in the United States for people aged 1-44 and the cause of more than 27 million emergency room visits annually; and WHEREAS while overall unintentional firearms deaths have decreased, statistics show a disproportionate number among children, with 16% of the unintentional firearms deaths occurring among youth under age 20; and WHEREAS many organizations, including gun rights advocates, have utilized National Safety Month as an opportunity to educate the public and spread awareness of the fundamentals of safe gun handling and storage to promote a safe environment for everyone; and WHEREAS a national effort is underway to form partnerships among law enforcement, elected officials, community leaders, state agencies, businesses, the firearms industry and others to raise awareness of and to distribute at no expense cable-style gun locks; and WHEREAS the Oakland County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted the report "Gun Violence in Oakland County" in 2013 with the action item: "Promote continual effective gun safety practices through public awareness and regular training. Increase public awareness of the proper securing of firearms and the penalties associated with the failure to do so"; WHEREAS the Gun Violence Study Group of Public Service Committee is undertaking efforts to plan a countywide effort to recognize National Safety Month and to promote firearms safety, including partnerships with numerous organizations. WHEREAS the ongoing efforts of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners to reduce gun violence has earned national recognition with a National Association of Counties Achievement Award; and WHEREAS a partnership of the Board of Commissioners, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, the National Project Child Safe/NSSF organization, Crime Stoppers, and over 30 local law enforcement agencies came together in June 2015 to successful distribute more than 3,000 gun safety locks, at no cost to participants; and WHEREAS a study by the RAND Corporation of firearm storage patterns in U.S. homes found that "Loy the homes with children and firearms, 55% were reported to have 1 or more firearms in an unlocked place," and 43% reported keeping guns without a trigger lock in an unlocked place'', and WHEREAS a 2005 study conducted by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control on adult firearm storage practices in U.S. homes found that over 1.69 million children and youth under age 18 are living in homes with loaded and unlocked firearms; and WHEREAS a 1999 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that more than 75% of the guns used in youth suicide attempts and unintentional injuries were stored in the residence of the victim, a relative, or a friend; and WHEREAS the U.S. Secret Service and Department of Education determined in 65% of the cases of 37 studied school shootings (1974-2000) the attacker obtained their gun from home; and WHEREAS the safe storage of firearms helps prevent firearms from being stolen, reducing the risk of illegal gun trafficking. WHEREAS Oakland County leaders and law enforcement officials must continue to increase public awareness of the safe storage and handling of firearms to prevent accident death and illegal gun trafficking. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby recognizes June 2016 as National Safety Month in Oakland County and declares their support for efforts to promote firearms safety education awareness and the distribution of gun safety devices. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Oakland County Board of Commissioners encourages all organizations, private and public, that are responsible for the safety of individuals to undertake activities in the month of June to promote greater awareness of personal safety and reduce the risks of unintentional injury. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds is requested to forward copies of this adopted resolution to Oakland County Sheriff, the Oakland County Chiefs of Police Association, the National Safety Council and the Oakland County Fire Chiefs Association. 67 Chairperson, I move thejadoption of the foregoing Resolution. CeCriimissioner District #3 ' Commissioner Marcia Ge Dist #13 / _Lidyez49& Commis one District # „ 1 G Commissi ne District # ZO S-1)- Commissioner District # Commissioner District # Commissioner District # Commissioner District # Commissioner District # Commissioner District # Commissioner District # Commissioner District # Commissioner District # Commissioner District # Commissioner District # Commissioner District # Commissioner District # Commissioner District #1 r' Commissioner Commissioner District # District # Commissioner Commissioner District # District # Commissioner Commissioner District # District # Commissioner Commissioner District # District* Commissioner Commissioner District # District # Commissioner Commissioner District # District # Commissioner Commissioner District # District # Resolution #16084 March 30, 2016 The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no objections.