The Work of the Wear Orange Campaign Continues
Pictured from left to right: Pat Stewart, Co-President of the board, Mary Kay Totty, Co-Convener of the Program Council, and Stephen Griffith, Chair of the Governance committee of MFSA's board, Cynthia Tuell, MFSA board member, MFSA Executive Director Bridget Cabrera, and Development and Communications Coordinator Jenn Meadows.
Every day, 120 Americans are killed by guns. During the weekend of June 2-4th, Americans honor the victims and survivors of gun violence by wearing orange. MFSA Board members, staff, and Program Council members participated in the Wear Orange campaign to raise awareness of gun violence within their communities. The work of raising awareness is only one side to advocacy work. We also need to take action. MFSA has put together a list of fives actions that you and your congregations can do today to take action on advocating for gun control within your communities. Sometimes, taking on such a large issue as gun violence can feel daunting. However, working together and being a unified front helps us be a beacon of hope for others across the country.
1. Register members of your congregation to vote. Share resources about gun sense candidates with your local networks. Having a future free of gun violence starts at the ballot box. Moms Demand Action has put together the Gun Sense Voter website to help you easily register to vote and to look up the candidates in your local elections that are committed to making common sense gun reform a priority if elected. The candidates compiled in this resource are committed to implementing stronger gun laws. Whether you have an election for Congress, the Senate, state legislatures, or town hall, it’s important to elect candidates committed to a future free of gun violence.
2. Write to your U.S. Representatives that enough is enough: America needs to support common sense gun reform now. Gun lobbyists continue to advocate for the interests of the NRA, not the American people. Common sense gun reform includes policies on background checks, Extreme Risk Protection Orders, and assault weapons. Stronger gun laws keep our communities and families safer. Everytown has made it easy to contact your U.S. House Representative to take action and pass these policies that make their constituents safer.
3. Write to your U.S. Senators encouraging them to pass a Red Flag law. Red Flag laws save lives by allowing families and law enforcement to take action before warning signs escalate into tragedies. A Red Flag law allows concerned family members and law enforcement to petition the court to temporarily remove guns from someone’s possession when they have clear evidence that they are a threat to themselves or others. Encourage your friends and family to write to their senators as well to pass a Red Flag law to make our communities safer.
Allendale United Methodist Church pastored by Board Co-President Andy Oliver
4. Get involved locally with your Moms Demand Action group. The local Moms Demand Action partnered with Allendale United Methodist Church to raise awareness for gun violence. Congregations can reach out to their Moms Demand Action chapters to volunteer at events, provide a meeting space, join a local demonstration, or provide their signs to raise awareness. If you’re an individual, you can volunteer to assist with local protests and actions. You don’t need to be a mom to volunteer! You can find your local chapter using the Moms Demand Action website.
5. Join the Gun Sense Action Network either as an individual or as a group. The Gun Sense Action Network makes calls to potential volunteers and voters to make a difference in the ballot box. Just one conversation can make a difference. Either you or your small group can volunteer weekly to make calls to encourage individuals across the country to vote for candidates that will advocate for common sense gun reform and strive to make their communities a safer place to live. You can sign up to volunteer on Everytown’s website.
Together, we can make a difference by making a gun violence free world a reality.