June 3 declared ‘Gun Violence Awareness Day’ in Santa Fe

SANTA FE, N.M. — Santa Fe leaders officially proclaimed June 3 as “Gun Violence Awareness Day” at a time that seems more important than ever to recognize it.

Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber signed the proclamation to try and end gun violence in the community.

“As a community, we renew our commitment to reduce gun violence and pledge to do all we can to keep firearms out of the wrong hands, and encourage responsible gun ownership to help keep our children safe,” said Jamie Cassutt, city councilor, as she read from the proclamation during a news conference Friday afternoon.

Santa Fe City Councilor Amanda Chavez said it’s in response to the 19 children and 2 teachers who were shot and killed at their elementary school in Uvalde last week.

“We as a community, as leaders, advocates, standing together and saying enough is enough, is a start. We must make noise by advocating and educating on this pressing issue,” she said.

Cassutt said, as the mother of a young child, this issue hits home for her.

“It is really about how do we protect our children,” she said. “How do we protect the children that are not biologically ours but who we have taken in as our own? In this community that is all the children that we know and as well as the ones that we serve: Our constituents, our students, our friends. They are the future and we have to protect them.”

After reading the proclamation, they held a moment of silence for the victims in Uvalde.