June is national Gun Violence Awareness month. While we are all too aware of the gun violence that continues to trouble us, we are reminded in this season after Pentecost that we are not without the comfort, counsel, and courage of the Holy Spirit to address it. June also sees the Episcopal Church meet for its General Convention. There are three resolutions before Convention that address gun violence: 

• B004 commends safe gun storage through education and advocacy for laws requiring safe storage, to protect especially children and people in crisis.
• D014 once again urges General Convention to recognize gun violence as a public health crisis to enable a holistic approach to freeing people from the fear and reality of gun violence in their everyday lives.
• D011 asks General Convention to advocate for and support a new ban on assault, automatic, and semi-automatic weapons.

 While our Deputies and Alternate Deputies to General Convention are working diligently to research and respond to legislative resolutions, any Episcopalian may register for the upcoming Committee Hearing that will receive testimony on B004. Other ideas for observing Gun Violence Awareness in June include: 

• Include gun violence awareness in your Prayers of the People. Gunviolencearchive.org provides opportunity to research the stories behind the numbers in your area;
• Invite gun violence survivors in your congregation to share their story and/or lead the prayers;
• Remember that the web of gun violence is supported by many strands, including racism, gender injustice, domestic violence, despair, poverty, pollution, and more; discern together where your parish may be called to intervene to bring the hope of the gospel to the world around us;
• Use the hymn Lay Down Your Sword as part of your devotions for peace;
• Support a local Guns to Gardens event – let your parishioners know that there is a way to turn weapons into tools for life. St Paul’s, Fremont, and Church of the Epiphany, Euclid are each hosting safe surrender events on June 8, and the Ohio Council of Churches is sponsoring a Festival of Nonviolence including Guns to Gardens during July;
• Write to your legislative representatives in Ohio and DC to advocate for gun violence reduction.
• Talk with our General Convention Deputies and Alternates about legislation coming before that body that may support gun violence prevention.

 May the peace of God which passes understanding take root among us and grow exponentially in this season. 

Rosalind +