Anchorage Assembly recognizes Gun Violence Awareness Day after amending disputed statistics

The Anchorage Assembly passed a resolution Tuesday recognizing June 5, 2026 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day and June 5-7 as Wear Orange Weekend, after amending language that cited disputed statistics about gun deaths and economic costs.

The resolution, AR2026-144, passed 9-3 following a unanimous 12-0 vote to strike language from the second whereas clause that had cited a $2.5 billion annual cost estimate. Assembly Member Erin Baldwin Day moved the amendment, which removed wording through the first sentence of the clause while preserving the statement that Alaska has the fifth highest rate of gun deaths in the United States.

The measure arrives more than a year after Assembly member Daniel Volland announced in April 2025 that he intended to postpone two gun-safety ordinances indefinitely and replace them with a community gun-safety resolution.

An earlier amendment to strike the first two whereas clauses failed on a 6-6 vote. The member who proposed that amendment argued the original language mixed different categorical data (combining gun violence deaths with all firearms deaths including suicide) and relied on advocacy group estimates rather than direct state costs.

April Ratchford, identifying herself as Anchorage local lead for Moms Demand Action, thanked sponsors and invited the public to a June 15 discussion at the Beartooth Theater about gun violence prevention.

Rachelle Parker, a volunteer leader with Anchorage Moms Demand Action, described the group's secure-storage advocacy. "I want to thank you all for your support and also share a little bit about the work that we have been doing throughout the state with the Be Smart for Kids program, which encourages secure firearm storage," she said.