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San Juan mayor proclaims June 6, 2025 as gun-violence-awareness day; resident speaker urges storage, training and partnerships
Summary
Mayor Mario Absa issued a proclamation designating the first Friday in June, June 6, 2025, as a gun-violence-awareness day in San Juan. A volunteer speaker, Leila Hoon, urged action on safe storage, school response training and mental-health supports, citing local scares and recent state legislation.
San Juan Mayor Mario Absa declared the first Friday in June — June 6, 2025 — to be the city’s gun-violence-awareness day, a proclamation read during the meeting.
The proclamation was followed by public comment from Leila Hoon, a volunteer with Anti Violence Demand Action for AMSEDS in America, who urged local steps including secure firearm storage, improved school safety planning and stronger partnerships among families, law enforcement and community groups. “Firearms are the most common method used in suicide, accounting for 50 percent of all suicides in Texas,” Hoon said, adding that veteran suicide rates are at a 20-year high and that suicide is the second-leading cause of death among 10- to 24-year-olds.
Hoon also referenced recent state action, saying the “New Albany Scribe Act” passed in the Texas Legislature last week and that the law aims to correct training problems that contributed to police hesitancy; she said the measure requires officers and school officials to meet annually to develop active-shooter response plans and expands training at campuses. Hoon said the Rio Grande Valley has seen “a number of scares related to guns at several school districts” and noted other recent incidents of random or intentional gun violence in the region.
Why this matters: City officials and residents framed the proclamation as part of a national awareness effort that includes both public information and local steps to reduce harm. Hoon said the "Wear Orange" campaign this year focuses on awareness plus concrete actions such as secure storage of firearms in homes and vehicles and community conversations about gun safety.
Meeting notes and next steps: The proclamation was read by the mayor and included the names of the city’s commissioners; the transcript does not show a recorded roll-call vote on the proclamation. Public comment contained specific requests for education, partnerships and community outreach; no formal motions or city directives tied to the proclamation appear in the meeting record.
Context: Hoon cited Memorial Day as a moment to reflect on recent trends and local incidents; she urged coordination among parents, community partners, law enforcement, elected officials, faith leaders, survivors, teachers and students to reduce gun-related harms.
