<div dir="ltr"><div><div>There is a resolution on gun violence being discussed by ALA Council. The discussion is open to everyone on ALA Connect at <a href="http://connect.ala.org/node/257600">http://connect.ala.org/node/257600</a>. This is a draft resolution put together by a working group formed at the ALA 2016 Conference. <br><br>You will need to sign in to ALA Connect to comment so you may need to make an account.<br><br><br></div>I am posting here the original resolution that led to this discussion and revision work so that you will know the staring place: <br><br><a href="http://ow.ly/V8Hq304qZkp">http://ow.ly/V8Hq304qZkp</a><br></div><br>2015-2016 ALA CD#45_62516_ACT
<br>2015-2016 ALA MMD#4_62516_ACT
<br>2016 ALA Annual Conference
<br><div><br><b>RESOLUTION ON GUN VIOLENCE AFFECTING LIBRARIES, LIBRARY WORKERS,
AND LIBRARY PATRONS</b>
<br><br>Whereas on June 12, 2016, 49 people were murdered by gunfire in Orlando, FL, the host city of
the 2016 Annual ALA conference;
<br><br>Whereas the safety and security of all communities served by libraries across the United States
are constantly threatened by unexpected and potentially lethal gun violence;
<br><br>Whereas the safety and security of workers in, and patrons served by, libraries of all kinds in all
areas of the country are vulnerable to unexpected and potentially lethal gun violence;
<br><br>Whereas the incidence and scale of gun murders and other gun violence in the United States are
far greater than those in any other advanced country;
<br><br>Whereas that incidence and scale are directly affected by the ready availability of guns
(handguns, assault rifles, etc.) in the United States due to lax gun laws, the absence of sensible
gun control laws, and the efforts of the gun lobby and the manufacturers of guns to resist these
controls;
<br><br>Whereas ALA passed a Resolution on Gun Violence in 2015 spurred on by the 9 people ,
including our colleague Cynthia Hurd, murdered by gunfire in Charleston, South Carolina, on
June 17, 2015; and
<br><br>Whereas the only thing needed for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing and to
remain silent; <br>now, therefore, be it
<br>Resolved, that the American Library Association (ALA), on behalf of its members:
<br><br>1. extends its sincere condolences to the family and friends of the 49 people who were shot
dead at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, and to all the families and friends of the
thousands of victims of gun violence;
<br><br>2. deplores the gun violence that materially affects the communities we serve;
<br><br>3. works with other professional associations to support sensible and effective and national
gun safety laws, oppose “gun friendly” state legislation, in particular any legislation that
permits the carrying of guns in or near libraries and schools;<br><br>4. calls on Congress to lift restrictions that prohibit the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and other Department of Health and Human Services agencies from
conducting gun violence research as a response to library communities in crisis;
<br><br>5. resolves to advance the idea of libraries mitigating violence in our culture by serving as
“safe havens” for the public, as evidenced during the recent uprisings in Ferguson, MO
and Baltimore, MD, and by offering public education opportunities that advance the
notion of libraries as perpetuators of peace. <br><br><br clear="all"><div><div><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature"><div><i><span style="font-family:"comic sans ms";font-size:10pt">Diedre Conkling</span></i><i><span style="font-family:"comic sans ms";font-size:10pt"><br><i><span style="font-family:"comic sans ms"">Lincoln County Library District</span></i><br><i><span style="font-family:"comic sans ms"">P.O. Box 2027</span></i><br><i><span style="font-family:"comic sans ms"">Newport, OR 97365</span></i><br><i><span style="font-family:"comic sans ms"">Phone & Fax: 541-265-3066</span></i><br><i><span style="font-family:"comic sans ms"">Work email</span></i></span></i><i><span style="font-family:"comic sans ms";font-size:10pt;font-style:normal">: </span></i><a href="mailto:diedre@lincolncolibrarydist.org" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-family:"comic sans ms";font-size:10pt"><font color="#0000ff">diedre@lincolncolibrarydist.org</font></span></i></a><i><span style="font-family:"comic sans ms";font-size:10pt"><br><i><span style="font-family:"comic sans ms"">Home email: </span></i></span></i><a href="mailto:diedre08@gmail.com" target="_blank"><i><span style="color:blue;font-family:"comic sans ms";font-size:10pt">diedre08@gmail.com</span></i></a></div>
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<span>“If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.”―Maya Angelou</span><span></span></h6><span style="font-family:"comic sans ms";font-size:10pt"></span></div></div>
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