Saving Lives: Ending Gun Violence

Statewide Rally Day

November 15, 2023 | 10am-3pm

Harrisburg, PA

Bishop Scanlan has scheduled a statewide rally day for November 15, 2023. Time is of the essence for us to meet and organize advocacy efforts, leading up to and continuing in November.

To get involved or for more information, please contact The Rev. Jennifer Mattson, Committee Chair.

Prayer Circles

Recognizing the Power of Prayer, the Prayer Circle Group is asking each parish in the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania to participate in a combined effort to lift up in prayer individuals within the Diocese who have been adversely affected by Gun violence.

If interested, please provide a parish email contact that the Prayer Circle Group may use to contact to supply the name. Contact Don Baldwin via e-mail at dwbduke74@yahoo.com.

Advocacy Working Group

Monday, April 17, 2023 | 7:00 PM

Zoom

If you’re interested in serving on the Advocacy working group, please respond to The Rev. Martha Harris. We are scheduling a meeting of the working group on Monday, April 17, at 7 pm via Zoom. We will share the results of our discussions with the full task force when it meets on Tuesday, April 18, at 7 pm.

March For Our Lives: PA Advocacy Day

Thursday, March 23rd, 2023

PA State Capitol | Harrisburg, PA

501 N 3rd St, Harrisburg, PA 17120

Join Bishop Scanlan on Thursday, March 23rd, to call on the new gun safety majority in the House to act. Signup now to learn more about transportation, trainings and get scheduled into a lobby meeting.

9 AM – 12 PM: Advocacy Meetings with Legislators & Training
12 PM – 2 PM: March for Our Lives Rally
2 PM – 3:30 PM: Advocacy Meetings with Legislators & Training

Press Conference with Bishop Scanlan

Monday, March 6th, 2023 | 3:00 PM

PA State Capitol | Harrisburg, PA

501 N 3rd St, Harrisburg, PA 17120

Press Release

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Rt. Rev. Audrey Scanlan will host a press conference in the Main Rotunda of the Pennsylvania State Capitol at 3 p.m. on Monday, March 6, to present and discuss her stance against gun violence as described in a recently published letter from the five Pennsylvania Episcopal bishops.

The five bishops published a letter on February 23 entitled, “With One Voice: Seeking Peace in Our Commonwealth.” Within the letter, the bishops acknowledge the pain and tragedy that gun violence has caused in our communities and our state. In addition, the letter notes their support of the following legislation:

One Handgun A Month limitations
Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO)
Prohibition on sales/possession of assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition magazines
Prohibition on sales/possession of ghost guns

In 2023, for the state of Pennsylvania alone, 110 people have lost their lives due to gun violence, and an additional 331 people have been injured, according to the Gun Violence Archive. The Episcopal Church has long called for an end to the gun violence epidemic, asking local, state, and national governments to limit the ownership, sale, and use of firearms and to limit the availability of weapons.

At the press conference, Bishop Scanlan will be joined by Episcopal bishops, clergy, and laity, as well as leaders, representatives, and laity of other PA faith traditions and the group, Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence.

Read the complete letter here. For further press inquiries, please contact Alexis Guszick, Canon for Diocesan Communications & Events, aguszick@diocesecpa.org.

Committee Contacts

The Rev. Jennifer Mattson:
jennifer.e.mattson@gmail.com

The Rev. Martha Harris:
marthaharris314@gmail.com

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