Statement from the Gun Violence Prevention Working Group of the Presbyterian Peace FellowshipChristopher Wiggins for The Advocate

Christopher Wiggins for The Advocate

Earlier this month, the Trump administration took two actions that deeply concern us. First, it removed the "Faces of Gun Violence" memorial from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) headquarters. This exhibit honored 120 individuals lost to gun violence, including children and law enforcement officers.

Second, the administration reached a settlement allowing the sale of "forced-reset triggers," devices that enable semiautomatic rifles to fire at rates similar to machine guns. This decision reverses a Biden-era ban and has been condemned by gun control advocates who warn it could escalate gun violence.

In the face of these actions, we are grieving—but not surprised. Once again, those in power have chosen to ignore the needs of survivors, elevate harm over healing, and erase the death and devastation of gun violence.

At the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, our Gun Violence Prevention Working Group grounds its work in the stories and leadership of survivors and others most impacted by the daily incidents involving guns across our nation.. This moment is no different. We remain committed to this sacred work—not because it is easy, but because it is necessary.

If anything has changed, it is not our mission. It is simply the strategies we will use to meet this moment. We are here. We are listening. We are watching. And we continue to provide practical, pastoral, and prophetic strategies to meet this moment. 

We hold space for all who are angry, afraid, exhausted, and still showing up. God is with us in the grief—and in the organizing.

So join us. Here’s how:

• Attend the 2025 James Atwood Institute for Congregational Courage
  September 24–27 in Harrisonburg, VA
  A space for spiritual grounding, practical tools, and collective courage to confront gun violence.
  Learn more and register here » bit.ly/Atwood-MainPage
  

• Join a Guns to Gardens Action Circle
  Be part of the movement to dismantle firearms and transform them into tools for life.
  Find or start an Action Circle » bit.ly/GVP-Mainpage
  

• Order the Gun Violence Prevention Toolkit & Resources
  Free downloadable worship guides, advocacy materials, and practical next steps for congregations.
  Access the toolkit here » bit.ly/gvptool
  
  Together, we are building a world where peace is more than a prayer—it’s a practice.