Heidi Yewman graduated from Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado years before the 1999 massacre that guaranteed the school a place in the history of gun violence in the United States.
A decade ago, the advocacy group Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence helped to shut down a controversial gun shop in Philadelphia.
With the involvement of many different faith communities, “we brought nine months’ worth of public attention to this particular gun shop, which was selling lots of guns that ended up in crime and so on,” said Bryan Miller, the group’s executive director. “We eventually basically embarrassed ATF (the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) into closing the gun shop.”
Gun violence prevention can be woven into various aspects of church life, from worship and pastoral care to Bible study and youth groups. But the potentially divisive topic warrants some preparation, thought and sensitive handling, according to experts featured in the latest webinar in the “Standing Our Holy Ground” series.
Three of the Compassion, Peace & Justice ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency will present webinars next week, giving Presbyterians and anyone else interested a chance to connect with the timely work of these offices.
As Kaaleah J. from the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia spoke, photos of her father appeared on a screen above the stage in Purdue University’s Eliza Fowler Hall and he could be heard rapping, “When I’m gone, will they remember me?”
