Gun Violence Prevention News

Presbyterian Peace Fellowship Gun Violence Prevention News for Congregations Feb. 2025 Welcome to New Readers  Yet another prayer after gun violence My heart breaks, God, my anger flares, my soul aches as gun violence continues. I grieve, I weep, I rage for people killed outside a driver’s license bureau in Louisville, for people killed and wounded at an air force base in New Mexico, for a police officer killed and others wounded at a hospital in York, Pennsylvania, for people shot in places that do not make the news.... See HERE for this prayer by Mark Koenig, 2024 Atwood Institute Graduate Peace-ing It Together is a new Peace Fellowship podcast. Listen to the Jan. 7 episode with Margery Rossi, PPF's Minister for Gun Violence Prevention and the Feb. 4 episode with Scotty Utz, Guns to Gardens leader with RAWtools South. Learn more HERE. Presbyterian Advocacy Hour --Monthly zoom series on how to be faithful on public issues now, offered by the PCUSA Office of Public Witness. Starts today Feb. 26! Learn more HERE.  Tufts University School of Medicine invites you to: Translational Science Day April 4 - Translating Gun Policy Science into Reducing Firearm Violence, a daylong virtual symposium featuring some of the nation's top GVP experts. Learn more HERE. Take Direct Action by Joining the Guns to Gardens Movement in 2025. Help Reduce Gun Suicide, Gun Theft & Unintentional and Mass Shootings Guns to Gardens Save Lives by Transforming Unwanted Guns into Garden Tools and Art Learn How Here: Spring Zoom Action Circles Thursdays April 24-May 22 Noon ET or 7:30 pm ET 1 Hour Per Week & 1 Hour of Preparation Register HERE Photo: Atwood Institute 2024 participants train on using a chop saw to dismantle unwanted guns for Guns to Gardens Safe Surrender events. Plan Now for Growth in 2025 James Atwood Institute for Congregational Courage Sept. 24- 27, 2025 Massanetta Springs Conference Center, Harrisonburg, VA  Read a Presbyterian News Story HERE The Atwood Institute is a game-changing, ecumenical project of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship to gather, equip and encourage clergy and lay leaders for gun violence prevention ministry by congregations. It honors the legacy of Rev. Jim Atwood, Christian prophet of gun violence prevention. Photo: 2025 Keynote Speaker, Rev. Sharon Risher Build Skills, Courage & Friends --Guns to Gardens Hands-On Training & More Hold your space! Learn More HERE Plan now to attend the Atwood Institute for Congregational Courage in 2025. Bring a Team! Scholarships Available Protecting Chidren from Gun Violence BeSMART for Kids Training March 10, Online 7 pm ET, 6CT, 5MT, 4PT Learn How to Promote Secure Gun Storage in your Community - a Direct Action to Save Lives Register HERE. Photo, Gun Violence Prevention Hero Gabby Giffords receives a PPF Gun Violence Prevention Congregational Toolkit from Jan Orr-Harter, your editor, at a recent gathering in Dallas, TX. Gabby's call to action for the next years: Defend good gun laws at the federal level and work, work, work at the state level for new laws. According to Giffords, since the Sandy Hook shooting, over 700 good gun safety laws have passed at the state level, saving lives every day. T-Shirts Guns to Gardens T-shirts and sweatshirts with the Guns to Gardens logo on the front and Isaiah 2:4 on the back. Order for your church volunteers for gun violence prevention events or as a gift. Order HERE Support PPF's Gun Violence Prevention Ministry We need support from churches, individuals and presbyteries to do this work. Gifts of all amounts are needed. Gifts are tax-deductible.  Give HERE or Mail checks to: "Presbyterian Peace Fellowship" att: Gun Violence Prevention 17 Cricketown Rd. Stony Point, NY 10980 Thank you. GIVE HERE! presbypeacefellowship.org/gun-violence-prevention  Rev. Margery Rossi, Minister for Gun Violence Prevention margery@presbypeacefellowship.org Rev. Jan Orr-Harter, Editor & Moderator, Gun Violence Prevention Working Group gvp@presbypeacefellowship.org Presbyterian Peace Fellowship 845-786-6743 | presbypeacefellowship.org Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Presbyterian Peace Fellowship | 17 Cricketown Road | Stony Point, NY 10980 US