Gun Violence Prevention March News

Presbyterian Peace Fellowship Gun Violence Prevention News for Congregations March 2025 Welcome, New Readers!  The shooting last week in a Las Cruces, NM park points to the urgency of preventing gun violence among children and teens. The three boys who died and all the shooters were all between the ages of 13-20, An additional 15 persons were injured in the 53rd mass shooting of 2025. Lord, have mercy. Protecting Children from Gun Violence The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship has launched a new ecumenical project, calling and equipping congregations to protect children from gun violence. Download a free new brochure for congregations HERE. Watch for news about Action Circles for Protecting Children coming soon. Atwood Institute Sept. 24-27 See announcement below on new leaders for this training event in Harrisonburg, VA Guns to Gardens Spring Action Circles April 24 - May 22 See below! 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 to 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: Rita Niblack of Most Precious Blood Catholic Church prepares volunteers for a Guns to Gardens Safe Surrender event in Denver. A retired educator, Rita co-leads the Action Circles that begin April 24. Guns to Gardens Metro Denver has dismantled 572 firearms so far. Sign up to learn how! Plan Now for Growth in 2025 James Atwood Institute for Congregational Courage Sept. 24- 27, 2025 Massanetta Springs Conference Center, Harrisonburg, VA News! Faculty from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center for Gun Violence Solutions will train Atwood Institute participants in the most effective actions for gun violence prevention for now. Leadership includes Josh Horwitz, the Center's Co-Director and Jim Atwood's long-time colleague; Lori Haas, the Center's expert on state-level advocacy; and Kelly Roskam, the Center's attorney for impacting Supreme Court decisions on gun safety. Be there!  Read a Presbyterian News Service 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. Keynote Speaker: Rev. Sharon Risher, Author of For Such a Time as This - Hope and Forgiveness after the Charleston Massacre Send-off Sermon by Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, Director of the Presbyterian Office of Public Witness in Washington DC 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 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