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New Lenox proclaims National Gun Violence Awareness Day; resident urges action and announces town hall with Congressman
Summary
At the May 18 meeting the New Lenox board issued a proclamation recognizing National Gun Violence Awareness Day (wear orange June 5) and a resident, Annette Vote, urged community action, announced a June 16 town hall with Congressman Jonathan Jackson and a June 6 blood drive at Grace Episcopal Church.
The New Lenox village board issued a proclamation recognizing National Gun Violence Awareness Day and encouraged residents to participate in wear-orange activities on June 5–7.
Mayor Balderman introduced the proclamation, citing national and state statistics about gun deaths and urging both responsible gun ownership and preventive steps to keep firearms out of the hands of people with dangerous histories. A guest presenter accepted the proclamation and urged residents to "honor with action" victims of firearm deaths, to wear orange on the designated weekend and to consider donating blood at a drive on June 6 at Grace Episcopal Church (zip code 60451).
The presenter cited a study they described as showing a firearm is stolen from a vehicle every nine minutes and called attention to an Illinois requirement referenced in the remarks that households with a child 17 or younger must keep firearms in a locked container rather than using only a trigger or cable lock.
During public comment Annette Vote, who identified herself as precinct 16 and a township trustee, announced a "Town Hall Tuesday" with Congressman Jonathan Jackson on Tuesday, June 16 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Lincoln Way West and said the mayor would speak briefly at the event. The announcement invited residents to attend and to watch for formal invitations.
Why it matters: The proclamation is symbolic but the meeting record included concrete community-facing steps (public visibility events, a blood drive) and references to a change in Illinois law on firearm storage for households with minors; officials encouraged engagement with state legislators on related policy issues.
Quote: "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 keep our children safe," Mayor Balderman said when presenting the proclamation.
What happens next: Wear-orange weekend is June 5—6; organizers and the village encouraged participation and outreach; the announced town hall with Congressman Jackson is scheduled for June 16.
