JUNE IS GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
June in New York State is Gun Violence Awareness Month (GVAM), with other states across the nation taking part in Gun Violence Awareness Day on June 4th. This is a time when we as a community publicly re-commit to ending the scourge of violence overtaking our streets. When we treat gun violence as an epidemic—comparable to COVID or another crisis—we can address the co-determinants of our communities’ health to confront the problem. Gun violence is now the leading cause of death amongst children in the United States, and is an issue that affects us all.
Our purpose is to bring government, community, members of the Clergy, Labor, business, and nonprofits together to elevate discourse and awareness around this important and devastating issue. We provide access to resources to educate the public and bring Gun Violence Awareness to the forefront of conversations across all groups, through programming and public education.
GET THE STATS
And, while the pandemic slowed a lot of things down, it didn’t slow down gun-related deaths and injuries in the United States. According to the CDC, over 45,000 people died from gun-related injuries just last year alone, including murders and suicides.
It is reported that 843 people die by guns in New York every year, and over 22,554 New Yorkers are impacted by gun violence annually. Though New York is rated the 48th highest in gun deaths in the country, there are signs that tell us that rate could increase if we do not remain vigilant in policy making and education.
GET THE STATS
A stark percentage of gun related deaths are by suicide, with 54% of all gun deaths reportedly coming from suicides. According to the NYC Health Department, 541 suicides occured in 2019 alone and with the COVID-19 pandemic and its related stressors - feelings of isolation, job loss, financial stress, and housing issues - suicide rates are expected to increase, especially in the 45-64 year old age bracket.
With the growing reality of more unknowns as we come out of a pandemic and people begin to relearn how to navigate a “new world” with new challenges, this campaign will be dedicated to exploring every opportunity to bring awareness and education on the issues and providing information, data, and educational opportunities for New Yorkers across the state.
