Gun Violence Prevention Good News Issue - Advent 2022

Gun Violence Prevention News for Congregations Dec. 2022 "Good News Issue" Photo: Volunteers Dismantle Guns at Oakhurst Presbyterian Church, Decatur, GA As we mark 628 mass shootings in the USA this year and the 10th year since the Sandy Hook school shooting, how can we offer "good news?" In this season of preparation, we dare to offer you this Advent "Good News Issue." Why? •Because of our shared faith in the coming of the Prince of Peace into the pain of gun violence. •Because of the signs of hope that we have seen this year. You are one of those signs of hope. For Good News, read on. Good News: Gun Owners Join to Prevent Gun Violence Giffords Gun Owners for Gun Safety held its first annual summit in 2022 to organize for gun safety training and advocacy. Learn more HERE. Everytown for Gun Safety has launched the Be SMART Campaign to involve gun owners in protecting children through gun safe storage. Learn more HERE. Good News: Gun to Gardens is Growing! Nine recent Safe Surrender events dismantled 546* unwanted firearms to transform them into garden tools. Every gun dismantled protects someone from violence and keeps that gun from being stolen or sold back into the gun market where it could do harm. Thank you to all who helped! See Presbyterian News Service story on these chop saw churches and community groups HERE. See a short video about the events HERE. *Most recent report is 546 firearms dismantled in Nov-Dec Photo: Pastor Gusti Newquist leads "Blessing of the Saw" liturgy on Dec. 10 at Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church in Shepherdstown, WV GOOD NEWS! Jan. 5- Feb. 2 Guns to Gardens Action Circle Registration OPEN NOW! Join with others across the church to learn more about Guns to Gardens, including safety, publicity, pastoral care and best practices for planning your own Guns to Gardens ministry. The next national Safe Surrender day will be mid-June 2023, so please register today for this Winter Action Circle, every Thursday for one hour at 12:30 ET on Zoom. Space is limited. See www.presbypeacefellowship.org/gun-violence See story from Presbyterian News Service about the Louisville event HERE. Learn how the Denver Broncos Football Team hosted 8 Guns to Gardens events HERE. Good News: Voters Elect Gun Sense Candidates On Nov. 8, voters elected Gun Sense candidates of all political parties, from school boards to sheriffs to senators. This includes 140 volunteers from MOMS Demand Action for Gun Safety who successfully ran for office, most for the first time. Voters have now called upon elected officials to build on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022, a historic piece of life-saving legislation and good news in June. Read about Moms Demand founder Shannon Watts, who was folding laundry when she learned of the Sandy Hook school shooting. See Shannon's story of taking action HERE. peacefellowship.org Your Invitation to be Good News Please join us in supporting the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship's Advent Giving Campaign! This is PPF's most important source of funding for all year. The campaign runs through midnight 12/31/22 and welcomes tax-deductible gifts of every amount. As of today, we are at the halfway point, with $33,000 more to raise. Can we count on you? Please Give HERE Or mail your gift, payable "Presbyterian Peace Fellowship," to: Presbyterian Peace Fellowship Advent Campaign 17 Cricketown Rd. Stony Point, NY 10980 Thank you! Our Gift to You! PPF Advent Calendar See Facebook HERE Each day, click on the flock of birds for a short message of hope, joy and commitment to a world where all God's creation can thrive. Blessed Advent & Merry Christmas! --Gun Violence Prevention Working Group, Presbyterian Peace Fellowship  Gun Violence Prevention Ministry Presbyterian Peace Fellowship gvp@presbypeacefellowship.org Rev. Deanna Hollas, Coordinator 214-702-2265 deanna@presbypeacefellowship.org presbypeacefellowship.org  ‌  ‌  ‌