St. Anne’s Episcopal Church Reston, in cooperation with other faith communities is sponsoring its second annual Gun Violence program on Sunday evening, April 30, 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The program – Stopping Gun Violence: The Role of People of Faith – is more than another cataloging of typical gun issues: The proliferation of guns throughout America, the almost seemingly impossibility of enacting meaningful gun control legislation, of escalating violence, of the rejection of hard data in favor of emotional reliance on firepower to solve every problem.
This interfaith gathering is a call for positive commitment for people of faith – Christian, Jewish, Muslim – to coalesce around reasonable common sense legislation at the state and national levels. We have an exceptional program this coming Sunday evening. What differentiates this program from last year’s effort, is the direct active support of our new rector, the Reverend Dr. John C. N. Hall who will conclude the evening’s session with an affirmative call to action, explaining how and why people of faith should take a stand to stop gun violence. For us, this is a major new direction.
WHAT DO WE DO NEXT? St. Anne’s new rector, the Reverend Dr. John C.N. Hall, will provide a moral guide to “what do we do next” a direction for further action to support both Virginia and Federal initiatives aimed at reducing gun violence, of saving human lives. Everyone is invited to actively participate. In addition to an exceptionally talented panel of experts, we will solicit your comments and suggestions. Don’t miss this ground-breaking program; be at St. Anne’s at 6:45 p.m. Sunday evening; every Faith Community is welcome. For questions or to expand the invitation list contract Rich Geissler, program coordinator, geissler@erols.com or call 703.255.2494 or cell 703.966.7111.
CHELSEA PARSONS Vice President of Guns and Crime Policy, Center for American Progress, former assistant New York state attorney general, and general counsel to the New York City criminal justice coordinator. She is an unparalleled expert on current gun legislation at the Federal level. Chelsea was invited by the NRA to debate gun issues at its convention, and appeared on CNN, MSNBC and NPR.
She will explain what is happening on the Hill, and how it will potentially affect our lives, particularly under the Trump administration. Some issues include an NRA push to reverse the National Firearms Act of 1934 banning silencers. She will also address the proposed National Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act introduced by Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) that would make a concealed carry permit like a universal driver’s license overriding all state restrictions on issuing a concealed carry permits.
LORI HAAS is the Virginia State Director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. After her daughter Emily was shot twice and survived the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre, Lori became personally involved in gun violence prevention efforts. She has worked with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the Virginia Center for Public Safety, Protest Easy Guns and Mayors Against Illegal Guns. She has lobbied on Capitol Hill in Washington and before the Virginia General Assembly for responsible gun laws numerous times. She promotes awareness of the issue by speaking to various groups from her perspective as a family member of someone who has survived gun violence. She appeared at St. Anne’s last year, to much acclaim, explaining the latest legislative initiatives in Richmond.
DELEGATE KENNETH R. “KEN” PLUM (D-VA 36th District) – Ken has served the Virginia House of Delegates for 35 years representing the 36th District, which includes greater Reston. He is a retired school teacher and school administrator, serving Fairfax Public Schools for nearly 30 years. He has been an ardent proponent of rational commonsense gun regulation for the past several years. Delegate Plum is particularly interested in reinstituting limits on “purchasing one gun a month” to reduce the flow of Virginia firearms to the streets of New York City. St. Anne’s joins Ken in attempting to ensure firearms are legislatively banned from being permitted in churches and schools.
SENATOR JANET D. HOWELL (D-VA 32nd District) – Senator Howell, who represents greater Reston in Virginia’s Senate will also be speaking – delighted to have her!
For questions or to expand the invitation list contract Rich Geissler, program coordinator, geissler@erols.com or call 703.255.2494 or cell 703.966.7111. Thank you.