Gun Violence Awareness Month was created to raise public awareness about the impact of gun violence, promote prevention strategies, and encourage community engagement. June is the month acclaimed as Gun Violence Prevention Month. Unfortunately, with the many tragic events we continue to see across our communities and throughout the country, it seems as if every day should be a day of awareness. Either directly or indirectly, via television, news, and other media sources, many see or feel the impact of gun violence. We have seen ENOUGH hurt, and harm, and tragedy caused by gun violence. Enough is indeed Enough! Yet, beyond this phrase, there must be intentional actions and effort to follow such a brief, yet profound statement that necessitates the energy of our Beloved Community. The 2026 theme for National Gun Violence Awareness Month is “United for Safe Communities: Awareness, Action, and Healing,” and it includes National Gun Violence Awareness Day on June 5, 2026, marked by the Wear Orange campaign. Here at Saint Ambrose Episcopal Church, Awareness, Action, and Healing are very much steeped in the vision, mission, and work of our worshiping community.
Unfortunately, we are seeing generations of our youth and adults alike who are impacted by the actual, or visual stimulations of trauma induced by their personal, or indirect experiences brought on by the reoccurrence of violence in our neighborhoods, schools, public venues, houses of worship, video games, the media and social media. For some, this reality of gun violence has struck our families, friends, co-workers, fellow parishioners, and classmates. Domestic violence, suicide, the lack of conflict resolution skills, and the escalation of small events have too often become the gun violence story on the evening news. These events coupled with the recent changes in gun legislation enacted by our own state’s elected officials leave our hearts heavy. COVID undoubtedly has been one of the greatest public health concerns many of us have ever seen and perhaps many had not seen since the polio and influenza outbreaks in previous decades. However, over time, we have seen this surge in gun-related injuries and deaths. This public health crisis has plagued our communities for years and all generations are affected. Gun violence leaves all parties and their families suffering.
For the past 6 years, gun sales have declined since 2020, when gun sales hit record highs amid concerns over COVID-19, protests against racial injustice, other social unrest, and the 2020 presidential election. 2025 marked a 3.6% decrease in sales compared to 2024, when there were 15.3 million gun sales. [The Trace] The vast majority of states and the District of Columbia had fewer gun deaths in 2025 compared to the year before. NC saw a 17.8% decrease. Shooting deaths decreased for another consecutive year, from nearly 17,000 in 2024 to 14,651 in 2025, which is lower than any year since 2015. [Gun Violence Archive] However, sadly, firearm-related suicides have only increased. In 2025, an average of 2,338 Americans died by firearm suicide every month between January and July (n=16,370), which is a slight increase from the same period in 2024. [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] Lastly, 2025 continued a trend of decreased mass shootings, defined as incidents in which at least four people were shot, excluding the shooter. There were 408 mass shootings in 2025, down from 504 in 2024 and 41% below the record set in 2021. [Gun Violence Archive]
As Saint Ambrosians, we must be vigilant in thought, word, and deed. In THOUGHT, let us remain steadfast and intentional in our prayers against gun violence. Let us not become numb to the violence we see around us and in the news. There may be people we know who are perhaps suffering due to this very issue. What we know is that violence is traumatic, and the trauma is real. If your heart is troubled by any of what is happening, please don’t suffer in silence. Please know that there are opportunities, services, professionals, resources, and pastoral help available to you.
Know that there are professional services that specialize in trauma-informed care and post-traumatic stress counseling. There are support groups and other events and activities in our community that promote mindfulness and positive well-being. Let your WORDS speak healing into existence. There are counseling services that enable you to talk openly about what you are going through. Help is available for you, and it is important to know and understand that such feelings and experiences are more common than we may realize. Others are dealing with similar stressors. It is important to know that YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Should you seek a more spiritual counseling experience on this journey, I am available for pastoral care.
Additionally, the Diocesan website has several resources as well. We are blessed to have one of our very own Saint Ambrosians serving on the Diocesan Gun Violence Taskforce. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Cassandra Deck-Brown as well if you have questions about gun violence prevention.
Our DEEDS can reflect both our individual and collective/corporate efforts to reduce gun violence in solidarity during this nationally recognized month and throughout the year as well. On Sunday, June 7th, each of you is invited to wear orange during the church service – in church and on-line. Please consider wearing anything orange – from clothing to just a simple ribbon pinned on you. Let us be united in this moment and stand together against gun violence.
We here at Saint Ambrose Episcopal Church want to make sure that we explore the topic of church safety for obvious and perhaps other reasons. As our lives are multi-faceted, we must ensure that the steps we take regarding our safety at church and at home are multi-dimensional as well. It is through our church partnerships within the Diocese, and throughout our greater community that we can discuss, share, listen, and help to heal and comfort others during these concerning and heart-heavy times. The outreach work we are doing around spiritual wellness, mental health and physical wellness truly support our mission for such a time as this. Let us continue to do our share to promote Awareness, Action, and Healing. When we heal our community, we are healing our neighbors.
Lastly, we want to you know that YOU are loved, and that there are resources and opportunities available now, with even more to come. Due to the pandemic and maybe even because of the increases in violent events, church members in many cities have physically withdrawn from visiting their church home. Please know there is and will always be a seat for YOU! We hope you will participate, have a voice, and be a part of the various events and activities that are happening in and around our Beloved Saint Ambrose Episcopal Church and the community.
Authored by Cassandra Deck-Brown
Resources
- American Counseling Association https://www.counseling.org/knowledge-center/mental-health-resources/gun-violence-trauma-resources
- Anti-Defamation League: Discussing Hate & Violence with Children
- Episcopal Diocese of NC – https://www.episdionc.org/
- Everytown: Gun Violence Trauma- https://everytownresearch.org/
- Moms Demand Action – https:/momsdemandaction.org
- National Alliance on Mental Illness – https://nami-wake.org/raleigh-mass-shooting-resources/
- NCDHHS: Keeping Families and Communities Safe
- Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Phone: 988 – Website: https://988lifeline.org/
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