HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2020.05.13 - 33218MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION, #_20149
BY: Commissioners Michael Spisz, District#3; Penny Luebs, District#16; Marcia Gershenson, District#13;
Kristen Nelson, District #5; Thomas Kuhn, District #11; Helaine Zack, District #18; Philip Weipert, District
#8; William Miller, District#14; and Eileen Kowall, District#6
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — DESIGNATION OF JUNE 2020 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 continue forming 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", and
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 Sheriffs Office, the National
Project Child Safe/NSSF organization, Crime Stoppers, and over 30 local law enforcement agencies came
together in June 2016 to successfully distribute more than 5,000 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 "of 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 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 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; and
WHEREAS Oakland County leaders and law enforcement officials must continue to increase public
awareness of the safe storage and handling of firearms to prevent accidental death and illegal gun
trafficking.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby
recognizes June 2020 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.
REQUESTING SUSPENSION
OF THE BOARD RULES FOR
IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION
UNDER NEW BUSINESS
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 the Oakland County Sheriff, the Oakland County Chiefs of Police
Association, the National Safety Council and the Oakland County Fire Chiefs Association.
Chairperson, I r ve the adoption of the foregoing Resolution. I . -
Commis loner Michael Spisz Commissi ner Penny Luebs
District Di ict#1
Commissioner i�rshens Commissioner Kristen Nelson
District #13 District #5
Commissioner Thomas Kuhn Commissioner HelairrdZack
Di 11 District #18
Commis er Philip Weigert Commissioner William Miller
District#8''n ' District#14
t. r eau- -Xp
( Commissioner Eileen Kowall Commissioner
District #6 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 #20149 May 13, 2020
Moved by Spisz seconded by Hoffman to suspend the rules and vote on Miscellaneous Resolution #20149
— Board of Commissioners — Designation of June 2020 as National Safety Month in Oakland County and
Support of Efforts to Promote Firearms Safety.
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the motion to suspend the rules and vote on Miscellaneous
Resolution #20149 Board of Commissioners — Designation of June 2020 as National Safety Month in
Oakland County and Support of Efforts to Promote Firearms Safety carried.
Moved by Spisz seconded by Hoffman the resolution be adopted.
AYES: Markham, McGillivray, Middleton, Miller, Nelson, Powell, Quarles, Spisz, Taub, Weipert,
Woodward, Zack, Gershenson, Gingell, Hoffman, Jackson, Kochenderfer, Kowall, Kuhn, Long,
Luebs.(21)
NAYS. None. (0)
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the resolution was adopted.
"". C 6.,
I HEREBYAPPROVIN
E%EGUTI E
CHIEF DEPUTY COUNT,,
ACTING PURSUANT TO MCL 45.559A (7)
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, Lisa Brown, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true and
accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on May 13, 2020,
with the original record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court at Pontiac,
Michigan this 13th day of May, 2020.
Lisa Brown, Oakland County