Pax Christi USA is an endorser of National Gun Violence Awareness Day, June 4th and we are encouraging our members, friends and partners to “wear orange” this weekend to honor survivors of gun violence and raise awareness.
Johnny Zokovitch, Executive Director of Pax Christi USA, serves on the Interfaith Advisory Council for Everytown for Gun Safety and Pax Christi USA is proud to endorse and promote the “Wear Orange” weekend.
Click here to find out more ways to participate this weekend.
From the “Wear Orange” website:
We organize Wear Orange events to remember lives lost to gun violence and to raise awareness about this public health crisis. Every day, more than 100 Americans are killed with guns and more than 230 are shot and wounded. These survivors are faced with a life-long process of physical and emotional healing.
Gun suicide claims the lives of over 23,000 people in the United States each year. More than 14,000 people die in gun homicides. The United States gun homicide rate is 25 times higher than that of other high-income countries.
Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States. Every year, more than 3,000 children and teens are shot and killed, and another 15,000 are shot and wounded – an average of nine children and teens shot and killed and 42 shot and wounded every day.
Fifty-eight percent of American adults or someone they care for have experienced gun violence in their lifetime. Approximately three million American children witness gun violence every year.
Together, we can build a future free from gun violence. Stand up, speak out, and participate in Wear Orange events to raise awareness.
PRAYER
Let the Shooting End
from the Sisters of Mercy
God, our hearts are broken with pain at the senseless deaths caused by gun violence. Families mourn, children live in fear, and some in our nation respond by arming themselves with more guns with greater capacity to end life. Our disconnection and alienation has caused some to turn to guns for protection and safety. We ask that you touch our hearts with your love, heal our brokenness, and turn us away from violence toward peace. Help us to transform our own hearts and to seek peaceful ways of resolving our differences. Let our hands reach out and connect with those who feel alone, those who live in fear, and those suffering from mental illness. Let our voices be raised asking our legislators to enact gun laws to protect all in our society, especially those most vulnerable. Let our pens write messages demanding change while also scripting words of hope and transformation. We ask this in the name of the God who desires that we live together in peace. Amen.
STUDY
Read the following statements related to gun violence issued by Pax Christi USA over the past decade:
- 3/17/21 – On the mass shooting in Atlanta
- 8/5/19 – Mass shooting tragedies are the expected consequences of hatred and violence
- 10/30/18 – In solidarity with the people of Pittsburgh
- 3/15/18 – Students who walked out to end gun violence: we are with you
- 11/6/17 – The mass shootings continue. Where is the gun control?
- 10/5/17 – Pax Christi USA responds to the Las Vegas tragedy
- 6/12/16 – On the Orlando tragedy
- 10/2/15 – On the shooting massacre at Umpqua Community College, Oregon
- 12/19/12 – On the events at Sandy Hook in Newtown, CT
Read these recent articles on gun violence by Johnny Zokovitch, Executive Director of Pax Christi USA:
- Biden’s first 100 days full of opportunities for gun safety
- We need more than ‘thoughts and prayers’; we need gun background checks
- Whatever Trump may think, the Catholic Church stands against gun violence
ACTION
- Call Now: Tell Your U.S. Senators to Take Bipartisan Action on Background Checks. Find more information on advocacy efforts and grassroots organizing with Everytown at this link.
- Join a Wear Orange event near you! Click here to find events happening in your community.
- Show your support for ending gun violence on social media.
- Join a March for Our Lives chapter in your town and check out these 5 ideas for action you can take.
I would like an orange T to wear every day.