WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL), and 8 colleagues in introducing the bicameral “Wear Orange” Resolution, which designates June 6, 2025, as National Gun Violence Awareness Day and the entire month of June as National Gun Violence Awareness Month. Each year, nearly 43,000 people in the United States are killed, and 97,000 injured by gun violence.
June 2 is the birthday of Chicago teen Hadiya Pendleton, who was shot and killed in a Chicago park in 2013, just days after performing in the parade for President Obama’s second inauguration. This tragic event moved the lawmakers to designate the first Friday in June as a time to recognize Pendleton nationally. In Hadiya’s memory, the resolution encourages people to wear orange, the color hunters wear for safety, to promote awareness of gun violence, and to serve as a reminder that people are not targets. Additionally, this resolution aims to bring community leaders together and encourage new approaches to creating safer communities.
“I am proud to introduce this resolution recognizing National Gun Violence Awareness Day and National Gun Violence Awareness Month, while also honoring Hadiya Pendleton, one of the thousands of people impacted by the devastating gun violence epidemic in our country,” said Senator Hirono. “As we continue working to enact commonsense gun safety legislation, we must reaffirm our commitment to doing everything in our power to protect our children and communities from these senseless acts of violence and put an end to this crisis.”
In addition to Senators Hirono, Durbin, and Duckworth, the resolution was cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ruben Gallego (D-NM), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Peter Welch (D-VT).
The full text of the resolution is available here.
Senator Hirono is a strong advocate for gun safety legislation and is continuously fighting to protect victims and survivors of gun violence. In March 2025, Senator Hirono introduced the Extreme Risk Protection Order Expansion Act, legislation to prevent people who are in crisis from accessing deadly weapons. In February 2025, Senator Hirono introduced the Keep Americans Safe Act (KASA) to reinstate a nationwide ban on the sale, transfer, possession, import, or manufacture of high-capacity gun magazines that hold more than ten rounds. In February 2025, Senator Hirono introduced the Age 21 Act, legislation to raise the minimum age to purchase assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines from 18 to 21, the same age requirement that already applies to purchasing handguns from federally licensed dealers.
###