​ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Wes Moore today proclaimed ​ June 2, 2023, as National Gun Violence Awareness Day in Maryland. The proclamation encourages all Marylanders to support community efforts to prevent the tragic effects of gun violence and to honor and value human lives. Protecting the public safety of all Marylanders is among Governor Moore’s highest responsibilities.

“By this time tomorrow, another two Marylanders will have died from gun violence, and here in Maryland, we’ve had enough of these senseless, preventable tragedies,” said Gov. Moore. “This year we passed common-sense legislation that will ensure you can’t bring a gun into a preschool, a hospital, or a government office—that if you have a mental illness and have a history of violent behavior, you cannot get your hands on a gun. This is what we have to do in order to keep our communities safe and I’m committed to seeing this through here in Maryland.”

"There is no excuse for inaction when gun violence is the leading cause of death for children in this country,” said Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller. “These deaths are preventable. Common-sense gun control, like the legislation this administration signed into law this year, will save the lives of Maryland’s youngest citizens, as well as protect all of our communities.”

According to Everytown for Gun Safety, 120 Americans are killed by gun violence and more than 200 are shot and wounded every day, with an average of more than 17,000 gun homicides each year. In Maryland, gun violence causes 13.3 deaths per 100,000 people at a cost of $10.5 billion each year—$383.9 million of which is paid by taxpayers. Maryland ranks #31 among the highest rate of gun deaths in the United States.

Every year, gun violence kills more than 40,000 people in America and wounds twice as many. It has become the leading cause of death for children and teens in America. The economic cost of gun violence is roughly $557 billion annually. Gun violence prevention is more important than ever as we see an increase in firearm homicides and nonfatal shootings across the country, and an increase in domestic violence hotline calls.

Marylanders are encouraged to join individuals across the nation in the campaign to support National Gun Violence Awareness Day by wearing orange today. To lend additional support to the campaign, Government House will be lit orange tonight. Visit WeWearOrange.org to learn more.

Governor Moore was proud to sign the Gun Safety Act of 2023 into law, which prohibits a person from knowingly wearing, carrying, or transporting a firearm in certain locations beginning October 1. The governor also signed the Storage Requirements and Youth Suicide Prevention Act into law this year, which alters a provision relating to the storage of firearms and ammunition in a location that can be accessed by an unsupervised child.