St. Louis County proclaims June Gun Violence Awareness Month; Duluth mayor, survivors urge more safety measures

Commissioner Grimm read St. Louis County’s proclamation declaring June 2026 Gun Violence Awareness Month and recognized partners including school districts, the Duluth Police Department and the sheriff’s office.

The proclamation cited statewide averages of firearm deaths and injuries and called on residents to "work to end gun violence so that St. Louis County remains a safe, vibrant and healthy community," Commissioner Grimm said.

Carl Crawford, the county’s accessibility and equity officer, then introduced Duluth Mayor Roger Reiner, who read a city proclamation and said the city would light a landmark orange that evening. "It is therefore my great honor as the mayor of the city of Duluth to proclaim today, June 2, as gun violence awareness day in the city of Duluth," Reiner said.

During public comment, Lavenda Vann told commissioners she had lost four family members, including a brother, two nephews and a grandson, to gun violence and urged an emphasis on gun-safety education: "I'm not here to say no one has the right to bear arms. I'm here to say what about gun safety?" Vann said, thanking groups such as the Brady Campaign and Moms Demand Action for supporting local efforts.

The county attorney described a 2024 state-authorized extreme risk protection order available to law enforcement, prosecutors and family members, saying the tool allows courts to temporarily remove firearms from people in a mental-health crisis until treatment resolves the immediate risk. The attorney said the office has carried out outreach by creating documentation for public events and distributing free gun locks.

Carl Crawford and commissioners invited the public to a community event on Saturday, June 6, from 10 a.m. to noon at 4th and Lake, where free gun locks and information will be available and organizers plan a bell-ringing to honor victims.

Commissioners used the forum to voice support for a range of measures — from expanded background checks and safe-storage conversations to limits on bump stocks — while several speakers framed the effort as community-wide prevention rather than a wholesale restriction of lawful ownership. The board did not adopt any new ordinance at the meeting; the proclamation and outreach plans were the formal outcomes.

The county encouraged residents with immediate questions about extreme risk protection orders or safety resources to contact the county attorney’s office.