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Designating the Week of Sunday November 12, 2017 through Saturday November 18, 2017 as Child Gun Safety Awareness Week in the City of Philadelphia.
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WHEREAS, According to federal statistics, there are guns in more than one third of all U.S. households; and
WHEREAS, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia research institute has concluded that 1.7 million children live with unlocked, loaded guns; and
WHEREAS Approximately one of three handguns are kept loaded and unlocked and most children know where their parents keep their guns; and
WHEREAS, As of October 25, 2017, there were 587 shootings of children ranging from new born to age 11 and 2,635 shootings of children age 12-17 in the United States; and
WHEREAS, The U.S. General Accounting Office estimated that 31 percent of accidental deaths caused by firearms might be prevented with the addition of 2 devices: a child-proof safety lock and a loading indicator; and
WHEREAS, In June of 2016, The Philadelphia City Council passed Bill Number 160331 that requires firearms to be kept unloaded and in a locked container if stored in a home where children reside or frequently visit; and
WHEREAS, Among children, eighty-nine percent of unintentional shooting deaths occur in the home. Most of these deaths occur when children are playing with a loaded gun in their parent's absence; and
WHEREAS, Studies have shown that States with child gun access prevention laws have a lower rate of unintentional death than states without such laws; and
WHEREAS, In August of 2017 an 11-year-old boy accidentally shot himself in the face in South Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, In September of 2017, a 3-year-old boy accidentally shot his uncle while sitting in a car in Center City; and
WHEREAS, On October 21, 2017 a 3 -year-old boy was accidentally shot in the head by his 6-year-old brother in North Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, It is the responsibility of gun owners to ensure that guns are stored where...
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