Every day, 125 people are killed by guns in the U.S. Firearms are the leading cause of death among children and teenagers in the United States. We owe it to our children and to all those we have lost to gun violence to end this epidemic. Children should never have to fear for their lives at school, yet kids as young as five years old must regularly participate in active shooter drills. What does it say about our nation’s morals if we value unregulated gun ownership over children’s lives? 

Even as we mourn the thousands killed by guns every year, our government refuses to act. In fact, the current administration eliminated the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and cancelled community violence intervention (CVI) programs in March. CVIs are evidence-based programs that seek to end gun violence where it is most prevalent. Critically, these efforts are rooted in community-led and public health-supported models–with the experiences of those most impacted by gun violence informing the intervention programs. Many congregations help support these community efforts and are already important parts of the community violence intervention effort, making it a vital part of our ministry as people of faith.  

We refuse to sit by and allow gun violence to be normalized as part of everyday America. Our faith instructs us to grieve with those who are mourning and let our prayers become actions. To not just lament but work to build a world restored. Our faith compels us to declare that a culture of violence and death is not inevitable. We are not powerless in making these changes; we can take steps to end gun violence.  

As Congress continues the fiscal year 2026 appropriations process, they must robustly fund CVI with $200 million and exert their constitutional authority over spending as the first branch of government. Congress must hold this administration accountable for its dangerous actions. 

 Tell your elected leaders to summon moral courage and take immediate action by calling on Congress to include in its upcoming appropriations bill $200 million in funding for the community Violence Intervention program.