Gun Violence Prevention

The Reform Movement, led by students and NFTY, is outraged at the current lack of legislative action and political leadership that allows this horrible violence to continue. This epidemic is not natural, nor normal and gun violence can be prevented.

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The epidemic of gun violence continues to plague individuals and communities across the United States, including our own Jewish communities as well as those of our friends, neighbors, colleagues, and partners. The Reform Movement, led by students and NFTY, is outraged at the current lack of legislative action and political leadership that allows this horrible violence to continue. This epidemic is not natural, nor normal and gun violence can be prevented. Drawing on Jewish traditions and values, we remain committed to taking action by engaging in community and legislative advocacy to end the gun violence epidemic.

Why Should Jews Care?

Jewish tradition emphasizes the sanctity and eternal value of human life. The Talmud teaches that: 

“One who takes a life, it is though they have destroyed the universe. And one who saves a life, it is as though they have saved the universe” (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5).

The dehumanization of individuals and the carelessness with which human life is taken during incidents of gun violence stand in direct violation of these affirmations of our tradition. We are called upon to take action to prevent the loss of lives and end gun violence.

TAKE ACTION

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Urge Congress to take immediate action to stop gun violence

very year, almost 40,000 Americans die as victims of gun violence. That’s over 100 deaths per day. Americans are 25 times more likely to be killed with a gun than people in other developed nations, despite the fact that gun deaths are incredibly preventable. The scourge of gun violence in America is both a public safety issue and a public health epidemic.

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Photo of kids sitting under their desks inside of a classroom

Tell Congress to require safe storage of guns in residences where minors reside

Since 2020, guns are the leading cause of death for children and teens (0-19) in the United States. The lowest rates of injury or death from unintentional child shootings occur in states with secure storage laws. Ethan's Law would help prevent such horrible tragedies and trauma from affecting American families and communities.

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no more assault rifles written in chalk on street

Tell Congress to Prohibit Assault Weapons

Assault weapons murder or maim as many people as possible in the shortest amount of time. Between 2015 and 2022, mass shootings where assault weapons were used resulted in 23 times as many people wounded and twice as many people killed per incident on average. Weapons of war and mass violence do not belong in our grocery stores, restaurants, houses of worship, nightclubs, and schools.

What's New

Gun Violence Prevention: We Must Take Action

The issue of gun violence became personal for me on July 4, 2022. On that day, this national crisis seized upon the quiet suburb where I grew up—about eight miles from where I currently live. During the Independence Day Parade on Central Street in downtown Highland Park, Illinois, a sniper stood on

Femicide, Firearms, and the Fifth Circuit

In October 2023, the Violence Policy Center published its review of 25 years of female homicide victimization in the United States from 1996 to 2020. Of note, they found that 92 percent of female victims knew their male killers, 61 percent of which were an intimate partner. Killed at a rate nearly

Protect Stalking Victims from Gun Violence

WRJ has robust policy around gun violence prevention and gender-based violence. In 1991, WRJ passed a resolution on Crimes Against Women, calling upon its members to educate about and advocate against domestic abuse in order to protect the life, well-being and health-both physical and emotional-of all. In 2013, WRJ’s Board of Directors passed a statement on gun violence prevention, calling upon all its American sisterhoods to urge the immediate enactment of legislation that would serve to prevent gun violence and to educate communities to become knowledgeable advocates for strong gun violence prevention measures. A few months ago for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I wrote about the unlikely connection between domestic violence and gun violence, and how the intersection of these two issues has resulted in continuous threats to women’s safety in the United States. Of U.S. women killed by intimate partners, 55% were killed with guns and 76% experienced stalking in the year prior to their murder. As January is National Stalking Awareness Month, it is important that we also explore the connection between gun violence and stalking.

Related Press Releases

Gun Violence Prevention: WRJ Statement

[New York, NY, February 16, 2018] In response to the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, Rabbi Marla J. Feldman, Executive Director of Women of Reform Judaism, and Blair C. Marks, President of Women of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement: “Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor.” (Leviticus 19:16) In the wake of the recent tragedy at Marjory

Reform Judaism's Resolutions on Gun Violence Prevention

Learn more about the position of the Reform Movement on these key issues, and read the formal resolutions by URJ and CCAR.

VIEW URJ RESOLUTIONS View Resolutions from Reform Movement Affiliates

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learning books

Engage Your Congregation

Gun Violence Prevention Shabbat Guide

The Religious Action Center prepared a resource guide and accompanying text study for use during Gun Violence Prevention Shabbat. 

Gun Violence Prevention Shabbat is commonly observed in June (in solidarity with National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange) and December (in solidarity with the National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence and the anniversary of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School), but the materials in this guide may be used for any Shabbat observance dedicated to honoring individuals and communities impacted by gun violence. This guide was last updated in May 2024.

RAC Reads Guide: Crossing Lines by Melanie Weiss

This guide is intended to facilitate conversations about Crossing Lines by Melanie Weiss. We hope that this guide will spark engaging and challenging discussions among Reform Jews about the complexities of gun violence.

RAC-PA 2023 Campaign to End Gun Violence

RAC-PA is engaged in a campaign in partnership with CeaseFirePA to pass a Common Agenda to End Gun Violence through the Pennsylvania State Legisture. Read more.

RAC-PA clergy resources:

 

 

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an image from a RAC Gun Violence Prevention rally in 2018, March for Our Lives; boy holding up oranage sign with black letters that says "Fear has no place in our schools"

Contact our Legislative Assistants

For more information on this issue, contact CJ Wechsler.