Calling on the City Council of Philadelphia Committee on Education and all of City Council to recognize and support President Barack Obama's Plan, Now is the Time, which aims to ensure the safety of our children and our communities by reducing gun violence.

WHEREAS, President Obama released the aforementioned plan on January 16th , 2013; and

WHEREAS, The President's plan proposes closing background check loopholes, banning military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, making schools safer, and increasing access to mental health services; and

WHEREAS, Following the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the President said, “We won't be able to stop every violent act, but if there is even one thing that we can do to prevent any of these events, we have a deep obligation, all of us, to try”; and

WHEREAS, With regards to making schools safer, the President proposes putting additional school resource officers and counselors in schools;

and

WHEREAS, The President wants to ensure that every school has a comprehensive, high-quality emergency management plan in place, one that staff and students are prepared to follow; and

WHEREAS, The President aims to fund evidence-based strategy teacher and staff training concerning creating a healthy school climate which can reduce violence and bullying in schools; and

WHEREAS, The School District of Philadelphia should take full advantage of the President's initiatives and proposed funding opportunities; and

WHEREAS, The City Council Committee on Education and the City Council Committee on the Disabled and Special Needs are actively forming a task-force which will support Philadelphia's Office of the Safe Schools Advocate which promotes a safe learning environment for students, provides information to families, advocates on the behalf of children, and protects those that are victims of school violence; and

WHEREAS, A copy of this resolution shall be sent to the President of the United States - Barack Obama, Vice President of the United States - Joe Biden, Senate Majority Leader - Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader - Mitch McConnell, Speaker of the House - John Boehner, House Majority Leader - Eric Cantor, House Minority Leader - Nancy Pelosi, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania - Tom Corbett, and the entire Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation; now therefore, be it,

Resolved, That the City Council of Philadelphia, Committee on Education and all of City Council recognizes and supports President Barack Obama's Plan,

Now is the Time

, which aims to ensure the safety of our children and our communities by reducing gun violence.

End