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Join End Gun Violence Michigan
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Upcoming Events
Wednesday, March 15
Rally for Gun Safety with Gabby Giffords
11:00 a.m.
Michigan State Capitol, 100 North Capitol Avenue, Lansing
Join us on March 15 as we rally in support of historic legislation moving through the Michigan State Legislature. We'll hear from advocates, survivors, students, and lawmakers. Headlined by Gabby Giffords, a former Congresswoman who survived an assassination attempt, Ms. Giffords is now a leading voice against gun violence. (In Michigan, we are getting close to passing important gun safety legislation calling for background checks, safe storage, and extreme risk protection orders.) The vent is sponsored by End Gun Violence Michigan.
Carpooling from First Pres is available. Contact Carol Fletcher
Gun Safety Legislation We Need to Pass NOW
February 2023
Safe Storage to Protect Children: These measures require that firearms be securely stored in homes with children. When Florida introduced safe storage, youth firearm deaths were reduced by 51%. 2021/22 introduced legislation: HB 5066-5069 and SB 550-553.
Universal Background Checks: Under current Michigan law, assault rifles can be purchased in private party sales without any background check. By changing the word "pistol" to "firearm" in Michigan's background check law, we can ensure that ALL firearm purchases are subjected to background checks. Criminals who are too dangerous to own a pistol shouldn't be allowed to own an assault rifle. 2021/22 introduced legislation: HB 4869,70,71 and SB 454, 455, 456.
Extreme Risk Protection Orders (Red Flag Laws): These laws permit a court to authorize the temporary removal and sale of firearms from and to a person deemed to a threat to themselves or others. 2021/22 introduced legislation: SB 856, 857, 858.
Protection for Domestic Violence Survivors: These laws would prevent those convicted of domestic violence from owning or purchasing firearms. Domestic abusers often escalate their violence, and it is important to intervene before abuse escalates to shooting or murder. HB 5371, 5372 and SB 678, 679.
Additional Resources
Click here for more Resources for Gun Violence Prevention
A Call to Address Gun Violence
While we are painfully aware that more than 100 Americans die each day from guns, the recent spate of mass shootings in this country has again heightened our sense of urgency to take action to stem the tide of gun deaths. As an initial response in 2019, First Presbyterian Church Ann Arbor produced the following statement to serve as a guide for our congregation to address this societal scourge with prayer and potential action.
Please read the statement below and consider how you might help in this cause.
First Presbyterian Ann Arbor Commitment to Reduce Gun Violence
We, as members of First Presbyterian Church, in an effort to model the love and the care of Jesus Christ in the world, commit ourselves to work actively to increase the respect and sanctity for life in our community and across our nation. We hear Jesus’s call to us to be peacemakers and lift up this special concern as we pray, worship, study and take action together in the world to reduce gun violence.
We believe we should love our enemies and follow the commandment, “Thou shall not kill.” We will pursue peace through non-violence. We are called to love and bear one another’s burdens without fear, without judgment, without resentment, without enabling, without condemnation and without guilt. We are called to generously share God’s grace with all people.
We agree that as Christians, we will work to diminish fear and violence. We will work to increase our love and safety in a Christian community that allows for differences and opinions. We are not of one mind about the appropriateness of owning or carrying handguns for personal safety. We acknowledge that this discussion is not about guns used for hunting or shooting sports.
As a Christian community, we commit to supporting our neighbors and caring for one another. We commit to welcoming, protecting, and educating our congregation and community. We commit to providing a safe place of worship. We commit to continual prayer for an end to gun violence.
We commit to providing a safe place of worship
We commit to educating our congregation and community
We commit to working in partnership for action and advocacy
We commit to continual prayer for an end to gun violence
Link to PCUSA Resolution-Gun Violence-Gospel Values, Mobilizing in Response to God’s Call:
https://www.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/acswp/pdf/gun-violence-policy.pdf
Contact
For more information on how you can get involved, please email the Social Justice Action Group at sjag@firstpresbyterian.org