Bill Text: IL SJR0040 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Declares July 2 through July 8, 2023 as Gun Violence Memorial and Prevention Week. Mourns the lives lost at the hands of gunfire in the City of Highland Park on July 4, 2022 and all those around the State of Illinois who have been lost to gun violence and recognizes the surviving families that live with the trauma of their losses. Remembers the lives of Katherine Goldstein, Irina McCarthy, Kevin McCarthy, Stephen Straus, Jacquelyn Sundheim, Nicholas Toledo-Zaragoza, Eduardo Uvaldo, and Aréanah Preston. Remembers all gun violence victims in the City of Chicago and all gun violence victim everywhere across the State. Honors the City of Highland Park, the City of Chicago, and their law enforcement, first responders, and community leaders for their service to the people of Illinois. Urges leaders to continue to do everything in their power to ensure communities across the State do not experience the trauma of gun violence, so that these horrific tragedies shall not be in vain.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2023-05-26 - Referred to Rules Committee [SJR0040 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SJR0040-Introduced.html

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SJ0040 LRB103 32592 MST 62207 r
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, On Monday, July 4, 2022, the City of Highland
Park and thousands of its residents and neighbors gathered for
its annual Fourth of July parade; and
WHEREAS, For generations, Highland Park has hosted this
parade, one of the largest Fourth of July gatherings in the
northern suburbs of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, At 10:14 a.m., tragedy struck as an alleged lone
gunman opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle at the
intersection of 2nd Street and Central Avenue in downtown
Highland Park; and
WHEREAS, In less than one minute, the assailant shot 83
bullets into the crowd, killing 7 and injuring dozens; and
WHEREAS, As residents ran from the gunfire, placed their
bodies over their loved ones, and sought safety, first
responders who had come to watch the parade put themselves in
harm's way; and
WHEREAS, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members
and community volunteers rushed to the scene and bravely
worked side by side with fire and police personnel and medical

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professionals, helping to save lives through their quick
action; and
WHEREAS, Law enforcement officers from Highland Park and
hundreds of others throughout the State of Illinois and at all
levels of government worked together to quickly secure
downtown Highland Park and later apprehend the suspect; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Nancy Rotering admirably and strongly led
the grieving Highland Park community in the minutes
immediately after the shooting and in the weeks and months
following the shooting, as the international community looked
to her leadership; and
WHEREAS, City Manager Ghida Neukirch selflessly ran to the
scene of the shooting to provide first aid to gunshot victims,
going far above and beyond her duties and providing
extraordinary care to the Highland Park community in the
moments following the shooting; and
WHEREAS, Physicians, nurses, and other staff raced to
Highland Park Hospital to assist the injured, some coming
straight from the parade, doing incredible work under intense
and difficult circumstances; and
WHEREAS, Hundreds of therapists, counselors, and social

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workers have supported those experiencing trauma from what
they witnessed during and after the shooting; and
WHEREAS, Gun violence remains a deeply concerning issue
across the State, with numerous incidents highlighting the
urgent need for effective prevention strategies; and
WHEREAS, It is essential to acknowledge recent incidents
that have underscored the devastating impact of gun violence
on individuals, families, and communities in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, From May 12 to May 14, 2023, there were eight
fatalities and 20 others injured due to gun violence in the
City of Chicago, leaving a profound impact on the affected
community; and
WHEREAS, Another incident on May 6, 2023 in South Side
Avalon Park resulted in the loss of Chicago police officer
Aréanah Preston and inflicted immeasurable pain on the
families and friends left to cope with the aftermath; and
WHEREAS, These incidents serve as heartbreaking reminders
of the urgent need for comprehensive approaches to gun
violence prevention, encompassing community-based solutions,
law enforcement efforts, and policy reforms; and

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WHEREAS, It is crucial to recognize the collective grief
and trauma experienced by those directly affected by these
incidents, as well as the enduring impact on the broader
Chicago community; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we declare July 2
through July 8, 2023 as "Gun Violence Memorial and Prevention
Week" in the State of Illinois; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we mourn the lives lost at the hands of
gunfire in the City of Highland Park on July 4, 2022; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That we remember all gun violence victims in the
City of Chicago; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we especially remember the lives of
Katherine Goldstein, Irina McCarthy, Kevin McCarthy, Stephen
Straus, Jacquelyn Sundheim, Nicholas Toledo-Zaragoza, Eduardo
Uvaldo, and Aréanah Preston; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we remember all of those around the State
of Illinois who have been lost to gun violence; and be it
further

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RESOLVED, That we recognize the surviving family members
who live with the trauma of their losses; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we honor the City of Highland Park, the
City of Chicago and their law enforcement, first responders,
and community leaders for their service to the people of
Illinois; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we urge leaders to continue to do
everything in their power to ensure communities across the
State do not experience the trauma of gun violence, so that
these horrific tragedies shall not be in vain; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
delivered to the City of Highland Park and the City of Chicago.