United Church of Christ’s Council for Health and Human Service Ministries Creates Gun Violence Advocacy Tool Kit

The UCC’s Council for Health and Human Service Ministries today (March 22) released an advocacy communique on the effects of gun violence. The communique, sent to CHHSM member ministers, includes a Gun Violence Advocacy Toolkit.

“This Saturday, March 24, 2018, hundreds of thousands of people across the country are expected to take part in the March For Our Lives. The student survivors at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., are leading the call for sensible gun control reforms,” the communique reads. “CHHSM stands with and for these incredible young people as several of our team members march with them this weekend.”

At the 2017 biennial General Synod of the United Church of Christ, CHHSM authored a resolution asking that the UCC call on Congress to recognize gun violence as a public health emergency. Such a designation would allow funds to be allocated to the CDC and NIH to study the true effects of gun violence and provide evidence-based recommendations to make guns safer. Delegates overwhelmingly approved the resolution.

In conjunction with the March, CHHSM calls on everyone to reach out to elected officials and advocate for this research. To that end, the toolkit includes key facts, resources, public communication samples and suggestions, and ways to contact elected officials.

Read the Advocacy Communique on Gun Violence.

Download the Gun Violence Advocacy Toolkit.

Find a March For Our Lives near you.