June is Wear Orange for Gun Violence Prevention Awareness Month. Mayor Emily Larson has proclaimed June 7 "wear orange day" in Duluth. Enger Tower will be lit in memory of the 100 Americans a day who die from gun violence. The Duluth School Board also is supporting gun violence awareness. I'm proud of the actions of our local community around gun-violence prevention.

In addition, June 21 is "ask day" when parents are encouraged to ask if there is an unsecured, loaded gun in the homes where their children and teens hang out. Asking can save lives.

U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber was asked by many individuals and gun violence prevention groups to sign onto and to vote for two bills in the House last winter, one requiring background checks on all gun sales and the other ending the so-called "Charleston loophole," which allowed a shooter to get a gun despite being a prohibited purchaser; nine people were killed in the shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C. June 17 is the fourth anniversary of that horrendous shooting. In addition, June 12 is the third anniversary of the Pulse nightclub massacre that left 49 dead in Orlando. Rep. Pete Stauber let the community down when he voted against the two life-saving measures.

Joan A. Peterson

Duluth

The writer is on the board of trustees for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, is co-president of the Northland Brady/Protect Minnesota chapter, is regional chairwoman of the Protect Minnesota Board, and is a board member for the Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs/the Duluth Model.