HomeMy WebLinkAbout17-15 Gun Violence Prevention ResolutionSouth Bend Gun Violence Prevention Resolution 2017
BILL NO. 17 -15
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND,
INDIANA, URGING THE INDIANA STATE LEGISLATURE, OUR GOVERNOR
AND ALL UNITED STATES SENATE AND CONGRESSIONAL
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLES OF INDIANA TO JOIN WITH OUR
COMMUNITY AND PASS LEGISLATION TO KEEP GUNS OUT OF THE HANDS
OF VIOLENT CRIMINALS, DOMESTIC ABUSERS AND SEVERELY MENTALLY
ILL PERSONS BY CLOSING THE LOOPHOLES IN THE FEDERAL
BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM AND STRENGTHENING STATE DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE LAWS.
Whereas, our city continues to experience significant harm from gun violence, despite
hard work to reduce the number of incidents and prevent spikes of gun violence that have
happened in other cities. It is clear that the easy availability of firearms to criminals is an
important factor, so we look to our broader community of lawmakers to do their part to
help South Bend curb the gun violence impacting our city.
Whereas, the city of South Bend feels that it can protect the lives of its citizens and at the
same time protect gun owners' Second Amendment rights.
Whereas, to date, background checks have blocked over 2.3 million gun sales to
prohibited people, with 88,203 of those occurring in 2013 alone, according to the F.B.I.
Unfortunately, millions of firearms are sold in unlicensed sales, including anonymous
transfers between strangers at gun shows and online.
Whereas, Indiana does not require private sellers (sellers who are not federally - licensed
dealers) to initiate a background check before transferring a firearm.
Whereas, Indiana has a high rate of gun purchases that are unregulated by existing laws,
which results in more illegal guns on our streets and more gun trafficking to other states.
In addition, the prohibition on sales to those adjudicated severely mentally ill is not
properly enforced, and Indiana's rate of submission of mental health records is little more
than one - eighth of the national average.
Whereas, some of our lawmakers argue that we do not need any new laws, that we
should fix our existing laws before creating any new ones. We feel that our Indiana
leaders have a responsibility to make our community safer by making all firearms subject
to background checks at the point of sale, so that felons and those with severe mental
illnesses are barred from possessing guns.
Whereas, we believe Indiana can be a good example and do the right thing. As a model,
we ask our leaders to consider the bi- partisan Manchin- Toomey Senate bill, or the
Thomson -King House bill, both of which close the gun show and internet sales loopholes
in the federal background check system. Indiana's U.S. senators and representatives
should co- sponsor and vote for these bills in their respective chambers.
Whereas, we ask our Indiana State legislators to craft legislation to close these loopholes
in the federal background check system as implemented in Indiana, in light of the present
inability of our federal legislators to support these bipartisan bills.
Whereas, we also ask our Governor to support and sign into law such legislation. 89% of
Hoosier citizens (insert citation) and 74% of the NBA's own members support
background checks. The citizens of Indiana deserve safer communities in which to live
and work.
Whereas, we ask our elected officials in the Hoosier state to strengthen state laws to keep
guns out of the hands of domestic abusers. Domestic violence often involves firearms,
and when it does women and children are more likely to die or suffer severe injury. Many
states have passed their own laws prohibiting domestic abusers from owning or
purchasing firearms. We ask our state representatives to pass laws protecting those who
suffer domestic violence, and our congressional representatives to vote for bills like
Senator Klobuchar's (D -MN) Protecting Domestic Violence and Stalking Victims Act of
2013 (S.1290), which would close the loopholes in federal law that allow certain
domestic abusers and stalkers to possess guns.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Common Council of the City of South Bend,
Indiana, as follows:
We in South Bend invite our Indiana lawmakers and representatives to an honest
dialogue about the responsible solutions to gun violence that are available to those who
are willing to work together. We ask them to sit down with our South Bend officials,
civic leaders and survivors of gun violence and see what they are willing to do to
strengthen our gun laws and at the same time protect our Second Amendment rights.
Tim Scott, 1St District
Regina Williams Preston, 2nd District
Randy Kelly, 3rd District
Jo M. Broden, 4th District
Dr. David Varner, Sth District
Kareemalh N. Fowler, City Clerk
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NOT APPROd'E ,
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Oliver J. Davis, 6th District
John Voorde, At Large
Gavin Ferlic, At Large
Karen L. White, At Large
Council Attorney
Pete Buttigieg, Mayor
Filed in Clerk's Office
f SoL tF Bend
MAR 2 0 2017
KAREEMAH FOWLER
CITY CLERK, SOUTH BEND, IN