Resources on Gun Violence Prevention

 

In support of the special event "What's Faith Got to Do with It? Christians Responding to Gun Violence," cosponsored by Grace Presbyterian Church, the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, and Perceptions: Exploring Gun Violence, we have collected some resources on gun violence prevention.  These resources are intended to help Christians say--and do--something meaningful about gun violence in the United States. 

We hope you find these useful. We will continue to update this resource list over time.

Books

• Beating Guns:  Hope for People Who are Weary of Violence by Shane Claiborne and Michael Martin (Shane Claiborne was one of the speakers on March 20, 2022)
• Collateral Damage:  Changing the Conversation about Firearms and Faith by James E. Atwood (The "What's Faith Got to Do with It?" conference was held in honor of the late Rev. Jim Atwood, previous pastor at Grace Presbyterian Church)
• Gundamentalism and Where it is Taking America by James E. Atwood
• Gunfight:  My Battle Against the Industry that Radicalized America by Ryan Busse
• Loaded by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
• Whom Shall I Fear:  Urgent Questions for Christians in an Age of Violence by Rosalind C. Hughes
• Common Ground: Talking About Gun Violence in America by Donald V. Gaffney
• Guns Down: How to Defeat the NRA and Build a Safer Future with Fewer Guns by Igor Volsky

Articles

• Stop Raising Awareness Already by Ann Christiano & Annie Neimand, Stanford Social Innovation Review
• How to Reduce Shootings by Nicholas Kristoff, The New York Times
• Fear: How the NRA Sells Guns in America  by Elliott Woods, The New Republic
• Everytown Research & Policy: Children & Teens by Everytown for Gun Safety
• Kids and Gun Safety by Advisement

Movies

• Trigger: The Ripple Effect of Gun Violence (how gun violence affects families and communities; this was the filmed discussed on March 19, 2022)
• Behind the Bullet (the aftermath of gun violence from the shooter's perspective)
• Us Kids (chronicles the March for Our Lives Movement over several years)
• Beating Guns Documentary
• Other Documentaries (recommended by Perceptions: Exploring Gun Violence)

TED Talks

• A Solution to Gun Violence Found in US History: David Farrell
• Why Gun Violence Can’t be Our New Normal: Dan Gross
• Let’s Treat Gun Violence Like a Contagious Disease: Dr. Gary Slutkin

Faith-Based Resources

Presbyterian Church USA

• • Presbyterian Peace Fellowship: Gun Violence Prevention: CONGREGATIONAL TOOLKIT (Presbyterian Peace Fellowship was a co-sponsor of the March 19-20 series; one of the speakers, Rev. Deanna Hollas, coordinates their Gun Violence Prevention ministry)
  • Gun Violence, Gospel Values: Mobilizing in Response to God’s Call [PDF] (PCUSA 2010 statement on gun violence)
  • Peacemaking Program Webinar Series: Standing Our Holy Ground

American Baptist Church

• • American Baptist Home Mission Societies’ Board Adopts Gun Violence Statement

Episcopal Church

• • Gun Violence Prevention

Roman Catholic Church

• • What the Church Does-and Does Not -Teach about Gun Control, Catholic News Agency
  • Backgrounder on Gun Violence, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Unitarian Universalist Association

• • Take Action to Prevent Gun Violence

United Church of Christ

• • Let’s End Gun Violence

United Methodist Church

• • Gun Violence Prevention

Other Websites

• Brady Campaign
• Everytown for Gun Safety
• Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence
• Moms Demand Action
• Students Demand Action