We've been given the date of the next youth witness at the Smith & Wesson offices here in Springfield. Youth from Pioneer Valley Project and B-Peace for Jorge have led three actions and this will be the fourth public witness. The hope is to meet with leadership at Smith & Wesson and become partners in the movement toward gun safety.
With this lead time we have an opportunity to gather our Episcopal youth and prepare them for participation in this public witness. Clergy are encouraged to be present at support for the youth and to witness to the Episcopal Church's commitment to ending the epidemic of gun violence in our communities.
One of our congregations, Saints James and Andrew, lost a member to gun violence in May. The epidemic is close to home, part of life in our cities, and in our schools. On September 13 let's stand with our young people and stand against military-grade weapons on our streets.
