Gun Violence Reduction – Education and Advocacy

In 2013, our clergy took the lead in delivering a strong statement of sympathy for the victims of the Newtown, Conn., tragedy and expressed solidarity with the then-growing movement among faith institutions to advocate for sensible gun violence regulation. At its March 2013 meeting, the Board of Trustees thoughtfully discussed and approved the Social Justice Council’s advocacy proposal regarding Gun Violence Prevention.

Temple’s advocacy position is deeply rooted in Jewish values, and is firmly in the mainstream of current Jewish thinking on the issue of reducing gun violence. Temple joins other faith based organizations, including the Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, as well as organizations representing numerous other faiths, in calling for sensible legislation that will help reduce gun violence. Our position reflects the belief that we have a genuine opportunity to influence public policy in regard to:

• Universal, meaningful background checks
• A ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines
• Improved access to mental health services

You can read the entire proposal here.

The Social Justice Council and Advocacy Committee will be communicating upcoming advocacy opportunities and educational programs about the relevant issues related to gun violence. 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Moms Demand Action - Texas

ARTICLES

• Nothing in the Constitution Prevents Sensible Gun Laws, Bloomberg
• What Explains U.S. Mass Shootings?, New York Times 
• Majority of Americans support policies aimed to keep guns out of hands of dangerous individuals, NPR
• America's gun culture in 10 charts, BBC
• Deadlocked and Loaded: Cutting Through Extremes on Gun Regulation, Dallas Morning News
• The Play Date Gun Debate, The New York Times 
• Children and Guns: The Hidden Toll, The New York Times
• Don't Know Much About Gun Laws, The New York Times 
• Grounded in Faith: Resources on Mental Health and Gun Violence, Religious Action Committee
• Protect Children, Not Guns, Children's Defense Fund
• The One Thing You're Not Supposed To Do, This American Life
• The Tyranny of Radical Individualism, Sh'ma
• Gun Country, The New York Times
• The Many Costs of Campus Carry The New Yorker 
• Constitutional Carry This Session? Not LikelyThe Austin Chronicle 
• Gun Violence Should Be Treated As A Public Health Crisis, Study Says NPR 
   

RESOURCES FOR PARENTS
Clergy and Pastoral Staff at Temple Emanu-El are here to talk with you, to process with you, and to support you at any time. You can reach Rabbi Amy Ross by email, or by calling 214-706-0021. Our Director of Member Support, Meredith Pryzant, can be reached at mpryzant@tedallas.org or 214-706-0000 extension 122.

• Jewish Resources for Coping with the Tragic Shooting in Parkland, FL, ReformJudaism.org
• Talking to Children about Tragedies, HealthyChildren.org
• How to Talk to Young People about Gun Violence, Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
  
  ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
• Rabbinical Assembly Gun Violence Source Sheet 
• Everytown
• Faiths United Gun Prevention Sabbath Weekend
• Mental Health America of Greater Dallas
• Moms Demand Action
• NFTY Gun Violence Prevention
   

OUR PARTNERS

• Moms Demand Action: For Dallas Chapter: Moms Demand Action information, contact Roz Katz, Temple liasion or Donna Schmidt, Volunteer-Dallas Local Group Leader.
• National Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY)
• Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC)