Reauthorize the assault weapons ban

Action: Email your members of congress to call for a reauthorization and stregthening of the assault weapons ban.

Background: In the light  of  the Newtown shootings, there is renewed urgency to taking a strong look at legislation regulating the sale of guns. Assauly weapons and large capacity ammunition devices have shown up far to often on our streets, in our movie theaters, and schools.

Even when the assault weapons ban was in  effect, loopholes such as cosmetic changes to banned weapons, or weapons produced prior to the enactment of the law continued to be sold to the public. A reauthorized ban should strengthen previous legislation to keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of those who would use them for harm.

Faith Reflection:  While we continue to pray for the families and friends of those who have died due to gun violence, we must also work to stop the flow of this military-grade weapon into schools, gatherings and streets. For a more extensive reflection on our Christian faith and gun violence, see pages 7-10 of our Preventing Gun Violence resource.