Arizona HR 2005: Iris McMahon; death resolution

Bill Text

HR2005 - 572R - I Ver 

 REFERENCE TITLE: gun violence; public health crisis

 State of Arizona

 House of Representatives

 Fifty-seventh Legislature

 Second Regular Session

 2026

 HR 2005

 Introduced by 

 Representatives 
 Sandoval: Aguilar, Austin, Blattman, Cavero, Connolly, Contreras P, Crews, 
 Garcia, Liguori, M�rquez, Simacek, Stahl Hamilton, Travers, Villegas

A 
RESOLUTION

declaring gun violence to be a public 
health crisis in Arizona.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Whereas, the United States is in the midst of a troubling crime 
wave. 2019 to 2020 saw the single largest year-to-year increase in murders in 
our nation's history, a trend that continued into 2021. Nonfatal 
shootings and other aggravated assaults have also dramatically increased in 
many jurisdictions; and

Whereas, according to the latest statistics from the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention, more Americans died of gun-related injuries 
in 2021 than in any other year on record; and

Whereas, gun violence is a daily scourge that threatens our 
most fundamental right: the right to life.� More than 600 people die every day 
as a result of firearms violence, which is driven in part by easy access to 
firearms; and

Whereas, gun ownership is consistently correlated with rates of 
firearm suicides, homicides and accidental shootings; and

Whereas, Americans are 25 times more likely to be killed in a 
gun homicide than residents of high-income peer countries; and

Whereas, the American Medical Association has formally 
recognized gun violence as a public health crisis; and

Whereas, firearms cause devastating injuries that result in 
lasting consequences on physical and mental health for individuals, families 
and communities.� Some gunshot victims need intensive, lifelong 
care. Others may lose their ability to work. Many have 
little or no access to programs that offer adequate long-term care and 
rehabilitation; and

Whereas, the impact of gun violence extends beyond physical 
injuries and fatalities, including emotional trauma, economic burdens and long-lasting 
suffering for affected individuals and their families; and

Whereas, beginning in 2014, firearm death rates began 
significantly increasing in Arizona; and

Whereas, gun violence is one of the leading causes of death in 
both adults and children in this state; and

Whereas, in 2020 alone, 1,265 Arizonans were killed due to 
firearms; and

Whereas, in 2022, according to Arizona's child fatality review, 
firearm deaths surpassed drug overdoses and car accidents as the number one 
cause of death of children 15 to 17 years of age; and

Whereas, our human rights are not protected if our leaders fail 
to tackle and end the epidemic of gun violence and gun deaths.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the House of 
Representatives of the State of Arizona:

That the Members of the House of Representatives declare gun 
violence to be a public health crisis in this state.