Gun Violence

Policy & Government

The Gun Law Navigator is the largest historical database of modern U.S. gun laws, drawing on Everytown for Gun Safety’s survey of state gun laws back to 1991. The Navigator allows you to compare the strength of state gun laws, track trends over time, and identify gaps in the gun laws in your state.

Under the Gun (film) examines the events and people who have kept the gun debate fierce and the progress slow, even as gun deaths and mass shootings continue to increase. Through the lens of families impacted by the mass shootings in Newtown, Aurora, Isla Vista and Tucson, as well as those who experience daily gun violence in Chicago, the documentary looks at why politicians are finding it difficult to act and what is being done at the state and local levels. The film is executive produced and narrated by Katie Couric and directed by Stephanie Soechtig.

“Common Sense” Gun Legislation (federal, US). What does that look like?

A Letter to the Biden-Harris Transition Team from the Gun Violence Prevention Coalition • In November 2020, BPFNA-Bautistas por la Paz joined other peace and justice groups in signing onto this letter from the Gun Violence Prevention Coalition urging the incoming Biden-Harris Administration to take meaningful action to address gun violence in the United States and providing recommended executive actions that the administration can take.

Organizations

Faiths United to Prevent Gun violence is a coalition of 50 groups representing many faith communities across the nation. Several Catholic groups are included.

The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence is a Washington-based group formed in 1974. It has a heavy emphasis on policy development and state and national legislation. It also actively rebuts the gun lobby's "dangerous, twisted interpretation of the Second Amendment."

Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. Founded by Jim Brady, the press secretary to President Ronald Reagan who was gravely wounded when Reagan was shot in 1984, the Brady Campaign has a plan to halve the number of gun deaths in the U.S. by 2025.

Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America was founded by Shannon Watts in the wake of the Sandy Hook shootings. Modeled after Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Moms Demand Action is building a grassroots network of activists who can advocate for state and federal laws, consumer protection regulations and industry standards to curb gun violence.

Giffords, formerly Americans for Responsible Solutions, was founded by Gabby Giffords, the former Arizona Congresswoman wounded in a mass shooting in 2011, and her retired astronaut husband Mark Kelly. Giffords builds coalitions among interest groups, and it has a law center for legislative research and a political action committee.

Worship Resources

Worship Resources
from the National Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath Weekend

Prayer after the shooting
from the Velveteen Rabbi blog

A Litany For Those Slain By Gun Violence
from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference

Hymns
from Carolyn Winfrey Gillette

• I Cried to God

• God of Mercy, You Have Shown Us

• God, We Have Heard It

• O Christ, You Did No Violence

• They Met to Read the Bible

• To a Place of Celebration

• If We Just Talk of Thoughts and Prayers

Toolkits

What Your Church Can Do About Gun Violence from BPFNA-Bautistas por la Paz
Use this tool to support your place of worship in creating a faithful and effective ministry on the issue of gun violence, answering questions members may have on the issue and providing resources and contacts for seeking additional information.

Gun Violence Prevention Toolkit (Presbyterian)
The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship offers a free "Gun Violence Prevention Toolkit" to help your congregation turn toward action against gun violence. Revised in 2017, the toolkit offers a wealth of educational resources for small or large groups, including films to screen in your church or community, case studies, worship design, and ideas for starting the conversation. 

Gun Violence Prevention Congregational Toolkit (Baptist)
This toolkit is based off the Gun Violence Prevention Congregation Toolkit from the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship. It includes education resources for your setting, suggestions for print and online resources, plus films to screen in your church or community, as well as three small group options. Pastoral and worship tools are also here for your use as well as several action items and additional resources.

Responses & Reflections

Called to be Peacemakers from the United Methodist Church
The general secretary, Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe, responds to the mass shooting at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, TX.

Living Without the Sword: A Statement from BPFNA-Bautistas por la Paz
We call on the governments of the nations across North America to enact, practice and encourage life-affirming measures to resolve conflict and preserve the integrity of the lives of their residents. We call on elected leaders to show courage by legislating measures that will decrease gun violence as well as every other form of violence. We call on our governments to cease their participation in the profitable but deadly international arms trade. We lift our voices against the wars, declared and undeclared, that destroy both individuals and communities, and we call on our leaders to declare a ceasefire on all forms of violence.