Guns 2 Gardens - Join Fall Action Circle to Learn and Act

Gun Violence Prevention News for Congregations Oct. 2021

On Sept. 4 in Houston, the NRA cancelled its 150th anniversary event, but gun violence prevention advocates went on with a memorial vigil to gun violence victims and a Guns 2 Gardens disarming event. PPF's Deanna Hollas, in photo with Shane Claiborne of Red Letter Christians and Mike Martin of RAWtools, reported that the vigil was attended by families of victims, some of whom have lost multiple children. At the disarming event, several guns were safely disarmed, including an AR-15. At Pleasant View Baptist Church, the closing event gathered Houston clergy to plan next steps to prevent gun violence. It was well-attended, including by the local Catholic Cardinal as well as by the Houston police chief, who shared his emotions on coming directly from a scene of domestic gun violence where four people died. See the AR-15 video and news below on congregations that will host disarming events this fall, as well as a path for action in 2022.  PPF invites you to join an Action Circle to explore Guns 2 Gardens.

Five Congregations will Host Disarming Events by Christmas Our pilot Guns 2 Gardens Action Circle is under way and we have five churches in Utah, Baltimore, Ohio, Atlanta, and California committed to hosting disarming events by the end of the year! Thank you to each church. Next? The Fall Action Circle Move your congregation to action by signing up for the Fall Action Circle. The Circle will meet by Zoom and will offer support and training for your community to explore hosting its first disarming event in early 2022. The Guns to Gardens action circles include three sessions which will help you to bring your congregation and session on board, guide you through logistical concerns, and prepare you to care pastorally for those who will bring firearms for disarming. Meet, pray, learn and share your experience with other Presbyterians as we take steps together to prevent gun violence by disarming unwanted guns. A Winter Action Circle will be announced later. The Fall Action Circle Dates are: Tuesdays Oct. 12, 26 and Nov. 9 at 6pm ET by Zoom.

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SPOTLIGHT PPF Interviews Presbyterian Will White on Disarming a Family Gun PPF: Why did you attend the Sept. 4 Guns to Gardens disarming event in Houston? Will: I went with my wife Marilyn and our seven year old grandson Aeden. We knew of the Mennonite Church where it was held and we wanted to support the event. I also had a gun that I wanted to have disarmed. PPF: Where did the gun come from? Will: I inherited it by default. It was my father's 22 rifle, really just a "varmint" rifle that I had not used since I was a boy. It was no longer a safe gun for anyone to discharge and we did not want it around with a grandson visiting our home. It had bothered me for a while -- what to do with it? I didn't want to sell it and I didn't want to leave it as something that my heirs would have to deal with. PPF: What was the disarming event like? Will: The church had a "Peace Pole" on the grounds, with "Peace" in many languages. Chop saws were set up under tents. Everyone wore a mask and we were mostly socially-distant. I participated in making the required cuts on my gun. The process was very loud--it makes a lot of noise. Afterwards, our grandson picked out a garden trowel to take home that had been created from gun parts from a prior disarming event. PPF: Was it an emotional experience? Will: For some people there, yes, very much so. For me, I was glad to do this. I had wanted to take care of this for a long time. It was a relief to be rid of this gun.

PPF: Do you think this project can help prevent gun violence? Will: Yes, it's an innovative option for people to dispose of guns they no longer want. Many grandparents are concerned about having guns in the house with children around. Disarming like this can help prevent tragedy. And many people have guns from hunting or skeet-shooting from their families. If you have guns you no longer want and you sell them, then you lose control of the destiny of that weapon. It can be used for harm. The Guns to Gardens projects seems to me to be a responsible way to dispose of guns. PPF: How did your grandson react? Will: He did well, except for the noise. In the car on the way home, we had an excellent conversation about the importance of not playing with guns in the homes of friends that he visits. PPF: Can you see Presbyterian Churches as locations for disarming guns? Will: Churches can do this, as a one time event or as a regular service. It may be controversial in some places. But it is a step beyond just speaking out against gun violence. It's providing a path for people to take action to reduce the number of guns in our homes and communities. Yes, the church can do this. PPF Note: After the Houston event, a chop saw was donated to the Houston Mennonite Church to become a regular host for gun disarming. See the network of over 50 trained sites so far through our partner in this work, RAWtools.org Could your church be the next host to disarm unwanted guns? Click HERE for the Fall Action Circle. In Christ, Presbyterian Peace Fellowship Gun Violence Prevention Working Group

Gun Violence Prevention Ministry Presbyterian Peace Fellowship gvp@presbypeacefellowship.org Rev. Deanna Hollas, Coordinator deanna@presbypeacefellowship.org 214-702-2265 | presbypeacefellowship.orgP