'Faiths United To Prevent Gun Violence' Coalition Announced

Calling For Effective Gun Policies In Wake Of Tucson Shootings

Jan 17, 2011

Washington, D.C. – In the wake of the tragic shootings in Tucson on January 8, faith groups today announced the formation of a diverse coalition of organizations united to confront America's gun violence epidemic and to rally support for policies that reduce death and injury from gunfire.Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence has already signed on 24 national faith organizations.

The recent shooting in Tucson in which six were killed and thirteen others wounded, including Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, spurred the new coalition to action. Member organizations chose Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to announce the new coalition.

"Gun violence is a moral issue," said Jim Winkler, spokesperson for Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence.  "It is simply unconscionable that we sacrifice 32 of our mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers every day to gunfire. Just as religious leaders like Rev. Martin Luther King were at the forefront of the civil rights movement and other campaigns for social justice, now we are stepping forward to embrace the moral imperative of preventing the continuing tragedy of gun violence in America."

The new coalition has endorsed a resolution calling for "effective public policy measures" to reduce death and injury from gunfire. The resolution specifically supports the prohibition of large capacity ammunition magazines like those that gave the Tucson shooter the firepower to inflict multiple deaths and injuries in the attack on Congresswoman Giffords.

Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence member organizations will call upon their local congregations in every state to rally support for gun violence prevention policies and reach out to other faith organizations to join the effort.

"We pray for the families and friends of those who died and for the full recovery of Congresswoman Giffords and all of those injured," said Winkler.

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The Brady Campaign, with its dedicated network of Million Mom March Chapters, is the nation's largest, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading the fight to prevent gun violence. The Brady Campaign works to enact and enforce sensible gun laws, regulations and public policies to create an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in our communities.

The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence is a national non-profit organization working to reduce the tragic toll of gun violence through education, research, and legal advocacy.

Dan Gross is the President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and the Brady Center. A photo and more information about Dan Gross is available here.

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