Gun Violence Prevention News for Congregations

Presbyterian Peace Fellowship Gun Violence Prevention News for Congregations Feb. 2026 Welcome, New Readers  For those impacted by the school shooting in Canada, Lord have mercy. Photo: Atwood Institute participants learn how to lead a vigil for gun violence victims. ICE and Gun Violence The surge of ICE agents in US cities is a moral and human rights issue ---and an issue of gun violence by the federal government. In many cases of ICE agents shooting civilians, the government has then filed charges against the people who were shot, claiming that they instigated the shooting. A New York Times analysis tracks how these cases are falling apart in court, showing 16 such cases, of which three of the people have died from this state-sponsored gun violence. Learn more HERE. Find a compelling faith statement on gun violence by ICE and DHS from POWER Interfaith PA HERE. For Presbyterians, the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship is reaching out to local churches and to any commissioners to the 2026 General Assembly to address the issue of state-sponsored gun violence. To help raise this issue at the General Assembly, contact gvp@presbypeacefellowship.org  SPRING TRAINING! Guns to Gardens Spring Action Circles April 16 - May 21 Sign up now to learn with other congregations how to offer a Guns to Gardens Safe Disposal Event for unwanted guns in your community. Learn how congregations are taking this responsible action to reduce the number of unwanted guns to be found by children, youth, or others; used in a crisis; resold or stolen to be returned to the gun market. Each Thursday on Zoom for 6 weeks for 1 hour, plus 1 hour of preparation. Register for Noon ET Daytime Circle HERE. 11amCT, 10MT, 9PT Register for 7:30 pm ET Evening Circle HERE. 6:30pmCT, 5:30MT, 4:30PT NEW! Training for Firearm Safety Officers for Guns to Gardens RAW Tools now offers training and certification for Firearm Safety Officers (FSO), which is a role required for each Guns to Gardens event. Some of the training is online and some is in person. On Feb 20-21, RAW Tools will offer the training in Weaverville, NC. A few spots are still open. Learn about prerequisites and future training by contacting Stan@rawtools.org  New Action Circles for Protecting Children from Gun Violence: Imagining a New World Wednesdays on Zoom Noon ET, 11 CT, 10 MT, 9 PT Bring a bag lunch or brunch! Spring: April 15- May 13 Register HERE. This five session series on Zoom will guide you and your congregation in finding your action for protecting children from gun violence. Created by educational and pastoral leaders in the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, this faith-based program covers in one hour a key topic each week: • Children in the Crossfire: Why is gun violence the top killer of our children? • Saving Child Lives with Secure Gun Storage • Seeing Our Children: The mental and spiritual health of children in the crossfire • Direct Action Options for Real Safety for Children • Advocacy, Voting and Finding Next Steps for Your Congregation Big News! Save the Dates! Sept. 15-18, 2026 The Atwood Institute for Congregational Courage comes to the heartland with comprehensive Gun Violence Prevention training for clergy and lay leaders. Ecumenical, Hands-On, Faith-Based Location: Heartland Center, Kansas City, MO Cultivating Courage to End Gun Violence Training for Clergy & Congregations Watch for Registraion & Scholarship Info next month! Photo: Atwood Institute 2025 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 Thank you to all who have given financially to support gun violence prevention. To do this work, we need gifts of all amounts. We welcome support from churches, individuals, and regional/national church bodies, as well as other groups. 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