GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION

The hope of the group is to focus on issues where the Diocese of North Carolina might affect change, either in a leadership role or in partnership with others. Among the areas explored for task force leadership:

• Identify advocacy opportunities
• Explore partnerships with organizations already engaged in the work of reducing gun violence
• Education around the role of mental illness, behavioral health challenges and other factors in gun violence
• Share resources to educate and assist churches in developing safety plans, including engagement with local law enforcement for consultation
• Develop a long-term plan to build a sustainable infrastructure to position the Diocese for ongoing calls to action, programs, education and advocacy

There are a lot of ways you can help reduce and prevent gun violence

• Stay in touch with your government representatives | Find your legislators
• Get involved in a community violence intervention program
• Learn about the role of mental illness, behavioral health challenges and other factors in gun violence
• Sign up for action alerts to lend your voice when it’s needed
  • The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations
  • North Carolinians Against Gun Violence
• Plan events around days observing gun violence awareness
  • National Gun Violence Awareness Month (June)
  • National Gun Violence Awareness Day/Wear Orange (First Friday in June)
  • Wear Orange ideas

Throughout each year, the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force hosts an installment of its “Conversation Series,” where attendees can learn and discuss various topics related to the reduction and prevention of gun violence. Watch the latest installment:

If your congregation or ministry is involved in the work of gun violence prevention, be sure to share it in your entry on the Episcopal Asset Map. To share your work:

• Visit your listing, click “More Details” and then “Update This Place.”
• Once you’re in your listing, go the “Ministries” section and add the work you’re doing, selecting “Other” and entering “Gun Violence Prevention” as your “Other Ministry Type.”
• If the system requires a second ministry category (it may or may not), please choose “Advocacy.”
• Hit “Save and Submit” when you’re done).

Gun violence prevention is not yet its own ministry option, but the map developers are tracking the work taking place, and the hope is that when there is enough of it, gun violence prevention will become a category all itself. Please help make it happen by sharing the work you do!