The epidemic of gun violence in the United States affects people from all our communities and continues to be one of the most pervasive problems of our time. Congress has the responsibility and authority to enact proven strategies to reduce gun violence, including investing in gun violence prevention programs, regulating firearm possession and purchases, and closing legal loopholes that endanger communities.
On average, someone is killed by a gun every 11 minutes, and unintentional shootings are a leading cause of death for children in the U.S. Despite more than 60 percent of Americans saying it is too easy to obtain a firearm, the Trump administration has made critical policy changes it argues protect the Second Amendment but that research shows may put more lives and communities at risk. These changes include cutting funding for community violence intervention programs; permitting the sale of forced-reset triggers that enable semi-automatic guns to fire similarly to fully automatic weapons; and allowing the Department of Justice to restore gun ownership to individuals previously deemed ineligible. These dangerous actions put lives at risk.
Congress should build on last year’s extension of the Undetectable Firearms Act and new funding for community violence intervention programs.
Gun violence does not have to be inevitable. Congress can reduce gun violence by passing legislation that will add reasonable restrictions on firearm ownership, require universal background checks, eliminate loopholes, tighten laws against gun trafficking, require gun safety training, fund gun violence prevention programs, and address gun violence as a public health crisis. It is out of love for the living God and reverence for human life, which is made in God’s image, that The Episcopal Church calls upon Congress to act decisively to limit access to deadly firearms and invest in proven efforts to interrupt violence and make our communities safer.
We have seen some small successes in recent years, but we can’t stop now. Act today to let your members of Congress know that the issue of gun violence remains as urgent as ever to address, and demand they support effective legislative solutions.
Additional Resources:
The Disproportionate Impact of Gun Violence on Black Americans
Bishops United Against Gun Violence
Episcopal Church Policies on Gun Safety and Gun Reform – The Episcopal Church
What is Community Violence Intervention?
Episcopal Church Resolutions:
2024-D011 - The Prohibition of Assault Weapons
2024-D014 - Declare Gun Violence a National Health Crisis
2022-B007 - Advocate for Funding to Support Community Violence Intervention Programs
2018-B005 – Advocate for Study of Gun Violence as a Public Health Crisis
2015-B008 – Support Handgun Purchaser Licensing
2015-C005 – Implement Laws to Decrease Gun Violence