Gun Violence Prevention

Take action with JCJ

End the gun violence pandemic and demand a safer society for all Americans

Join us as we mobilize Jewish communities and pro-democracy people of faith in support of common sense gun safety laws.

What’s the injustice?

The U.S. averages nearly one mass shooting per day.

The bullets have rung out during worship services and graduation parties, in offices and in supermarkets, in schools, in neighborhoods, and often in the home. By May of 2021, gun violence had ended more than 8,100 lives in the United States — about 54 deaths per day, setting a pace to make this the deadliest year for gun violence in recent memory. Each shooting death is a story that has ended too soon, a world shattered. Every incident forces us to confront a grim and devastating reality: Gun violence has come to plague every dimension of American life.

The gun violence epidemic is a uniquely American problem — a public health crisis of which our children bear an unconscionable burden. In 2017, child and teen gun deaths hit a 19-year high. In 2018, gun violence was the leading cause of death among people 19 years old and younger, exceeding car accidents for the first time. In 2019, more children were killed by bullets than by “cancer, pneumonia, influenza, asthma, HIV/AIDs, and opioids combined.” Despite these well-documented trends — and as more families bury their children, parents, and loved ones each year — Congress has repeatedly failed to act. As a result, Americans of every age, community, and background have paid with their lives.

What we believe

Nothing is more important than protecting human life.

The Talmud teaches that “anyone who saves one life, it is as if they have saved an entire world.” Preserving human life is the highest value in the Jewish tradition. We support efforts to pass common sense gun laws such as closing gun show loopholes, banning assault rifles, expanding background checks, reducing easy access to firearms, and holding gun sellers and manufacturers accountable.

At the federal level, we are engaged with our coalition partners in the fight to pass transformative legislation:

  • The Assault Weapons Ban would ban the sale, transfer, and manufacturing of military-style assault weapons and high capacity magazines as well as other high capacity ammunition devices.

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Connections: Jewish Sources

For this reason, one individual was created first, to teach that anyone who causes one life to be lost it is as if they have destroyed the entire world, and anyone who saves one life it is as if they have saved an entire world. — Talmud Bavli Sanhedrin 37a

And for every stumbling block that threatens lives, one must remove it, protect oneself from it, and be exceedingly careful in its regard; as it says: “You shall guard and protect your lives,” (Deuteronomy 4:9). And if it is not removed instead is placed in front of those who come to danger, one has violated a positive commandment and has violated “bring not blood.”
— Shulhan Arukh Hoshen Mishpat 427