In June, TDBI went orange for National Gun Violence Awareness Month. On our emails, social media, and at numerous in-person events, we wore orange to remember, reflect, and act to end gun violence in our country. Throughout the month, we worked alongside several organizations involved in gun violence prevention, including:

• WearOrange.org
• RAWTools
• Clergy for Safe Cities
• Swords to Plowshares Northeast
• The Episcopal Diocese of Washington
• Bishop Mark Beckwith and Bishops United Against Gun Violence
• Faith Leaders for Ending Gun Violence

TDBI gives thanks that just last weekend, President Biden signed a historic gun safety bill into law. This bipartisan action is the first major gun safety legislation passed by Congress in nearly 30 years. The action of leaders on Capitol Hill is inspiring local leaders across the country to propose new gun violence prevention legislation in their states and communities.

Sadly, this federal response came out of tremendous pain and outrage following several mass shootings including the massacre of 19 children and two adults at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, and the murder of 10 people at TOPS Friendly Market in Buffalo, N.Y., on May 14. Just this year, there have been 294 mass shootings and more than 11,800 suicides involving guns (Gun Violence Archive).

Even though June has come to an end, TDBI continues our year-round commitment to forming, supporting, and encouraging leaders to address gun violence and other ethical crises facing our world.

Here are a couple of ways you can turn your prayers to action and continue the much needed work of ending gun violence in our lifetime.

The Dietrich Bonhoeffer Institute has developed a small group Bible study, Faith Over Fear, which examines gun violence prevention from a thoughtful, biblical perspective. Discover what the Bible says about our faith in God, our attitudes toward others, and our response as Christians to gun violence in our society through this study.

Visit Faith Leaders for Ending Gun Violence’s Facebook page to keep up to date on the ecumenical network of faith communities involved in gun violence prevention.