Gun-safety advocates say Renton did not accommodate Wear Orange proclamation; city cites scheduling constraints

A member of Moms Demand Action told the council that the group’s request for a Wear Orange/Gun Violence Awareness proclamation for June was not accommodated for the June 2 meeting and that the group received a reply on May 23 declining the request.

Ian Taylor, speaking for the Renton chapter of Moms Demand Action, said the local group’s leader, Laura Meyer, submitted the proclamation request in April and followed up several times. Taylor read portions of the city’s reply, including the sentence he said came on May 23: “We are unable to accommodate the request for this coming Monday’s council meeting.”

Taylor said the delay and eventual rejection were “very disappointing” and asked for clearer communication; he acknowledged that practical reasons may exist. He also noted a city-sponsored gun lockbox giveaway planned for the Renton Community Center on the Friday following the meeting, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., described as sponsored by Renton Parks and Recreation in association with Public Health — Seattle & King County.

Mayor Pavoni (on the record at the meeting) said the city receives dozens of proclamation requests and apologized for not responding sooner; he said the city had issued gun-violence proclamations in the past and that staff would do better at follow-up.

Council Member Vaughn later asked whether the city intended to revisit and accommodate the Wear Orange proclamation at a future council meeting; the mayor said he would get back to the council with more information. No formal proclamation was adopted at the June 2 meeting.