AJR121

A Joint Resolution designating June 21 of each year as “ASK (Asking Saves Kids) Day” to promote children’s health and gun safety.

Whereas, In this country, one out of three homes with children has guns and 1.7 million children live in a home with an unlocked, loaded gun, according to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence; and

Whereas, Three out of four children ages five to 14 know where firearms are kept in the home; and

Whereas, On average, 80 percent of unintentional firearm deaths of children under 15 years of age occurred in a home; and

Whereas, In this State, an estimated 7,710 children live in homes where there are unlocked, loaded firearms; and

Whereas, Access to guns can lead to tragic consequences for children; and

Whereas, The ASK (Asking Saves Kids) campaign encourages parents to add one more safety question to a conversation before their child visits other homes: “Is there an unlocked gun in your house?”; and

Whereas, The hope is that this will become a common health and safety question asked by citizens to help protect their families and children from death and injury; and

Whereas, The first day of summer, June 21, the season in which children typically spend more time at the homes of friends and family, is designated as “National ASK Day” to remind parents nationwide about the importance of asking if there are guns where their children play; and

Whereas, Across the country, this campaign has successfully inspired an estimated 19 million households to ask this question before sending a child to play at another home, potentially saving the child’s life; and

Whereas, It is fitting and proper for the State of New Jersey to designate June 21 of each year as “ASK Day” to promote children’s health and gun safety; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. June 21 of each year is designated as “ASK (Asking Saves Kids) Day” in New Jersey to promote children’s health and gun safety.

2. The Governor shall annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and the citizens of this State to observe the day with appropriate activities and programs.

3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This joint resolution designates June 21 of each year as “ASK (Asking Saves Kids) Day” in this State and directs the Governor to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and the citizens of this State to observe the day with appropriate activities and programs.

In this country, one out of three homes with children has guns and 1.7 million children live in a home with an unlocked, loaded gun, according to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. On average, 80 percent of unintentional firearm deaths of children under 15 years old occurred in a home. In this State, an estimated 7,710 kids live in homes where there are unlocked, loaded firearms. Access to guns can lead to tragic consequences for children.

The ASK campaign encourages parents to add one more safety question to a conversation before their child visits other homes: “Is there an unlocked gun in your house?” The hope is that this will become a common health and safety question asked by citizens to help protect their families and children from death and injury.

The first day of summer, June 21, the season in which children typically spend more time at the homes of friends and family, is designated as “National ASK Day” to remind parents nationwide about the importance of asking if there are guns where their children play.

Across the country, this campaign has successfully inspired an estimated 19 million households to ask this question before sending a child to play at another home, potentially saving the child’s life.