WHEREAS, In January of 2013, the Philadelphia Board of Pensions and Retirement passed a resolution to adopt the “Sandy Hook Principles”, which called on gun and ammunition manufacturers, distributors and retailers to act responsibly, by establishing a baseline standard for conduct and business practices that would ensure the safety of all citizens; and
WHEREAS, The Sandy Hook Principles address five specific categories of reform in terms of procedures, coordination, management, safety and technology; and
WHEREAS, If gun and ammunition manufacturers, distributors and retailers failed to sign on to the Resolution, the Philadelphia Board of Pensions and Retirement was to divest its holdings in those corporations; and
WHEREAS, The Sandy Hook Principles originated after a tragic mass shooting that occurred on December 14, 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School, where 20 children and six adults lost their lives; and
WHEREAS, Since the Sandy Hook shooting, there have been 1,126 mass shootings in the United States, with 1,252 people killed and 4,453 wounded. This number includes 239 school shootings, where 438 people were shot and 138 people were killed; and
WHEREAS, Since this resolution was passed by the Board of Pensions and Retirement, the City Council of Philadelphia has not received an update on the status of specific divestments pertaining to gun and ammunition manufacturers; and
WHEREAS, It is particularly important to revisit this issue, in light of the recent mass shooting that occurred in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were killed by a lone gunman inside of a high school; and
WHEREAS, The Council of the City of Philadelphia has a duty to ensure that these principles remain effective and are being adhered to; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby authorizes the City Council Committee on Finance to hold public hearings concerning an update from the Philadelphia Board of Pensions and Retirement about the City’s divestment of holdings in gun and ammunition manufacturers, distributors and retailers since the adoption of the “Sandy Hook Principles”.
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