Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence

Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence (Faiths United) is a United States faith-based, interdenominational gun control advocacy organization.

Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence
FoundedJanuary 17, 2011 (2011-01-17)
Location
  • Washington, D.C.
Area served
United States
Members
50
AffiliationsBrady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence
Employees
1
Websitefaithsunited.org

History

Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence was formed on January 17, 2011, after the 2011 Tucson shooting that killed six and injured U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. The coalition's 24 founding members wrote a letter to Congress endorsing a bill to ban large-capacity ammunition magazines.[1] The bill, H.R. 308, did not pass.

In 2012, Faiths United worked with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, and other gun control groups to prevent passage of the National Right to Carry Reciprocity Act.[2]

In January 2013, Faiths United and other faith leaders wrote another letter to Congress after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.[3] In March 2013, it collaborated with the National Cathedral, PICO National Network, and Mayors Against Illegal Guns to urge new gun laws requiring background checks for all gun sales, banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and making gun trafficking a federal crime.[4][5]

Membership and mission

As of May 2013, Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence listed 50 supporters, including Jewish, Christian, Islamic, and Sikh groups.[6] It advocates that: every person who buys a gun should pass a criminal background check; high-capacity weapons and ammunition magazines should not be available to civilians; and gun trafficking should be a federal crime.[7] Its national coordinator, Vincent DeMarco, has said that he believes the same grass-roots, faith-based strategy that beat the tobacco lobby can also defeat the gun lobby.[8]

References
  1. Winkler, James; Blevins, Jordan; et al. (January 2011). "Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence: A Letter to Congress". Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  2. Banks, Adelle M. (December 17, 2012). "Newtown shooting galvanizes religious gun control advocates". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  3. Boorstein, Michelle (January 15, 2013). "Faith leaders launch gun control push". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  4. Brooke, Amber (March 12, 2013). "Faith leaders urge US Congress on gun law reform in new ad [VIDEO]". Ecumenical News. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  5. Shaver, Katherine (March 16, 2013). "Religious leaders call for assault weapons ban, background checks on gun buyers". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  6. "Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence Supporters". Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  7. "Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence About". Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  8. Zopor, Patricia (January 18, 2013). "Faith groups begin to muster their members in support of gun controls". Catholic News Service. Archived from the original on April 18, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
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