Most recently, in 2018, bishops and deputies at the 79th General Convention passed a resolution recognizing gun violence as a public health issue.Ĭonnecticut Bishop Ian Douglas, a co-convener of Bishops United Against Gun Violence, also signed the brief. The Episcopal Church’s General Convention has passed numerous resolutions over the years calling for tighter gun laws. She noted that the religious leaders’ brief cites a General Convention resolution from 1976 supporting “federal, state and local legislation aimed at controlling the sale and use of hand guns” and a 2015 resolution urging lawmakers to pass laws requiring permits for citizens to carry concealed weapons. “I am proud that General Convention has put us on record in favor of sensible gun restrictions and that we are able to make a witness in this critical case.” “This is a critical issue for our congregations, but even more so for faith communities that are too often the target of hate crimes,” Jennings said Oct.
Gay Clark Jennings, president of the House of Deputies, along with other Episcopal clergy, including more than 20 Episcopal bishops who are members of the Bishops United Against Gun Violence network. The brief was signed by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and the Rev. New York’s law further helps address these threats by reducing the casual public carrying of concealed weapons, and thus the likelihood of gun violence in public places – including houses of worship.” “However, regulating firearms within houses of worship alone is not enough. “Reducing threats to Americans gathered for religious observance – as well as those participating in religious ministry within the community – is an important state interest that justifies reasonable firearm regulation,” the religious leaders say in the court brief. Their brief warned that throwing out the New York law could undermine gun regulations in that state and in other jurisdictions, making it more likely that guns will be brought into churches and other “sensitive places” where guns usually are prohibited. The Episcopal Church’s presiding officers have opposed the gun owners’ lawsuit, joining an interfaith group of more than 400 religious leaders in filing a “friend of the court” brief on Sept. Two gun owners sued to challenge that requirement after they were denied the permits. The case focuses on a 108-year-old New York law that requires gun owners to show “proper cause” for self-defense before they can receive permits to carry concealed guns in public. 3 will hear arguments in a gun control case that could limit how far cities and states may go to regulate whether and when Americans can bring guns into public places, potentially increasing the risk of violence at houses of worship. Episcopal leaders joined a “friend of the court” brief in a gun control case going before the U.S.
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