Title
Support for Anne Arundel County's Free Gun Locks Program - For the purpose of expressing Council support for Anne Arundel County's first in-the-state pilot program providing up to two gun locks to adult county residents.
Body
CITY COUNCIL OF THE
City of Annapolis
Resolution 27-23
Introduced by: Alderwoman Pindell Charles
Co-sponsored by: Ald. Arnett, Ald. Finlayson, Ald. O'Neill, Ald. Tierney,
Ald. Savidge, Ald. Gay
A RESOLUTION concerning
Support for Anne Arundel County's Free Gun Locks Program
FOR the purpose of expressing Council support for Anne Arundel County's first in-the-state pilot program providing up to two gun locks to adult county residents.
WHEREAS, Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman announced a new pilot program on April 13, 2023, that makes up to two free gun locks available to adult residents at select library locations in the county; and
WHEREAS, County Executive Pittman, in recent remarks about the program, noted that "While state law preempts local jurisdictions from imposing certain gun restrictions, this program is one of the ways we are working to save lives by mitigating the risk of gun violence," and
WHEREAS, Dr. Tonii Gedin, Acting Health Officer for Anne Arundel County, said, "Gun violence is a public health issue, not a political one. It is an epidemic that needs to be addressed with research and evidence-based strategies that can reduce deaths and injuries."; and
WHEREAS, The American Medical Association estimated that approximately 4.6 million children in the United States live in a home with at least one unlocked and loaded firearm, and in 2022 there were at least 353 unintentional shootings involving children, resulting in 156 deaths and 212 injuries nationally; and
WHEREAS, Anne Arundel County Public Library CEO Skip Auld, in his comments on the program, indicated that "The library is a trusted community institution where residents can count on accurate information, high-quality educational tools a...
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