Special Action Alert on Gun Control Bills

March 11, 2000

ACTION:

Support pending legislation that would bring about common sense control laws. Come to the Mother's Day Million Mom March. Use this packet for adult and youth education programs in your church and community organizations. Share this information with co-workers.

BACKGROUND:

The enclosed attachments to this Action Alert come from the Violence Policy Center and the Consumer Federation of America. There is also an article written by Sarah Brady who serves as Chair of Handgun Control, Inc., a non-profit public policy organization that focuses on gun control legislation and policies. Readers will remember that Sarah's husband, Jim, and President Ronald Reagan were shot seriously in an attempted assassination of the former president. As you read through the materials here, you will see just how complex this issue is. You may not agree with each and every point. You may think that some suggestions go a bit too far or do not go far enough. I would encourage you to work on the points that resonate with where you are.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY GUIDANCE:

GA policy over the years would support the information in this packet.

1999-The 211th General Assembly officially reaffirms the denomination's position in support of legitimate possession and use of firearms in hunting, the maintenance of a subsistence lifestyle, target shooting, collecting, and other recreational sports.

1998-The 210th General Assembly calls upon all Presbyterians to:

1. intentionally work toward removing handguns and assault weapons from our homes and our communities; and
   
2. seek ways to develop community strategies and create sanctuaries of safety for our children, so that all of our children may come to identify and value themselves and others as the precious children of the family of God that they are, and that they may come to learn peace for their lives and peace for this generation.

1996-The 208th Generally Assembly issued this statement on gun violence:

Whereas, about 38,000 Americans die and more than 582,00 are assaulted each year from gun violence; and

Whereas, gun violence is the leading cause of death for African-American males, 15-24 years of age; and

Whereas, within the last month one in twenty high school students has carried a firearm for protection; and

Whereas, suicidal adolescents are seventy-five times more than likely to kill a family member or friend than an intruder; and

Whereas, gun violence drains $20.4 billion per year from the economy and public funds pay for 80 percent of health-care expenses for injuries and fatalities due to funds; and

Whereas, in 1990 and 1991, death by guns in Texas, Louisiana, California, Illinois, and Washington, D.C., outnumbered traffic fatalities and, if unabated, will by the year 2021 be the leading cause of injury-related death in all the United States; and

Whereas, nearly every other developed nation in the world prohibits handguns and assault weapons, resulting in only a fraction of the deaths each year that we experience each day in the United States; and

Whereas, the Second Amendment applies only to the right of the states to maintain a well-organized militia; and

Whereas, the most dangerous instrument of death is a oncealable handgun, which has no legitimate sporting purpose and is manufactured solely to be used against people; and

Whereas, Americans overwhelmingly support commonsense gun laws at all levels of government;

Whereas, followers of Christ are called to be peacemakers and order our communities and society to be a sign of God's shalom and reflect God's love and justice; and

Whereas, General Assemblies of Presbyterian Church (USA) and its predecessor denominations have, since 1968, responded favorably to all overtures to curb gun violence, but lack a consistent voice, making it confusing to some as to what the policy of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is on the issue of gun violence; and

Whereas, our denomination and the former Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCS) and the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (UPCUSA) have made at least eighteen statements [on the subjects of guns]; and

Whereas, the 108th General Assembly (1968) of the PCS advocated effective control; and

Whereas, the 184th General Assembly (1972) of the UPCUSA called for a prohibition of "the manufacture, sale ownership, and possession of conceal able weapons"; and

Whereas, the 116th General Assembly (1976) of the UPCUSA called for a prohibition of "strict gun control . . . on the manufacture, importation, sale, ownership, and possession of conceal able handgun weapons"; and

Whereas, the 193th Assembly (1981) of the UPCUSA reaffirmed the resolution of the 184th General Assembly; and

Whereas, the 197th General Assembly (1985) declared "its opposition to the use of deadly force . . . in defense of property"; and

Whereas, the 200th Assembly (1988) reaffirmed and strengthened the actions made by predecessor [Presbyterian] denominations and directed more effective study on this grave moral issue; and

Whereas, the 201st General Assembly (1989) called for strong legislation to ban private ownership of assault and paramilitary weapons; and

Whereas, the 202nd General Assembly (1990) in a long list of recommendations called on the "the United States government to establish meaningful and effective federal legislation to regulate the importation, manufacture, sale, and possession of guns and ammunition by the general public";

Therefore, the 208th General Assembly (1996) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.):

1. Makes clear to all its members and state and national elected leaders its convictions that the presence in our society of concealable handguns and assault weapons;

a. has no redeemable social purpose;
b. is not for legitimate sporting activity; and
c. is inconsistent with our vision of the reign of Christ in which people do not hurt or destroy one another.

2. Reaffirms the Resolution on Gun Violence adopted by the 202nd General Assembly (1990) as the current comprehensive and consistent policy of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (Minutes, 1990, Part I, pp. 604-612).

3. Urges that, except for military and law enforcement use, further manufacture and sale of assault weapons and concealable handguns should be prohibited and possession and use of existing weapons of these types should be strictly regulated.

4. Directs that this statement be widely published in publications of the church and sent to state governors, members of Congress, and the administration from whom we urge some commonsense legislation to begin the urgent task of making and keeping our cities and nation free from the disgraceful scourge of gun violence.

5. Instructs the National Ministries Division, the Washington Office, and the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program to consider the issue of gun violence to be among our church's highest priorities.

6. Affirms the work of the National Ministries Division's Office of Criminal Justice.

Approved with comment: In keeping with current policies on gun violence, we want to emphasize the need for proper gun-use education and to actively address the underlying causes of violence in our society.For more information: Presbyterian Washington Office (202) 543-1126