Candlelight Vigil to End Gun Violence Sunday at 4 PM

In commemoration of the third anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, as well as the 90,000 American victims of gun violence since Sandy Hook in December 2012, the Scarsdale Congregational Church, UCC, is joining the Newtown Foundation, Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence and Everytown Survivor Engagement Network in a Candlelight Vigil to End Gun Violence. The Vigil will start promptly at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 20, 2015, at the Scarsdale Congregational Church, at 1 Heathcote Road (cross street is Post Rd). Several clergy members will be present and the program will include readings, prayers and music.

Since the Sandy Hook shooting:
• According to EveryTown for Gun Safety, there have been over 150 school shootings, nearly one school shooting per week.
• There have been nearly a thousand mass shootings, defined as four or more people shot in the same incident.
• Approximately 240,000 Americans will have been killed or injured by guns.
Gun violence is particularly devastating to young people. This year is the year when gun violence passes motor vehicle accidents as the leading killer of young people under 26 years old. The Scarsdale Congregational Church-UCC Task Force to Address Gun Violence, which organized this Vigil, is examining ways that people can help to end gun violence. If you are interested in joining this effort, please leave a message for Pat Colella at 914-723-2111 or e-mail sccoffice@verizon.net.

The SCC-UCC Task Force to Address Gun Violence Urges You to Act Now:
Here are some actions you can take to prevent gun violence:
1) Support Nicholas's Law:
Support passage of the Safe Storage Act, called "Nicholas' Law," which would require gun owners to safely store their firearms. See this petition from New Yorker's Against Gun Violence. Write to Senate leaders John Flanigan and Jeffrey Klein to urge them to take up the Senate version of the bill, S.2291, in the 2016 legislative session.

2) Join an Advocacy Group:
New Yorkers Against Gun Violence NYAGV. For a list of five things you can do to reduce gun violence click here.

3) Learn More about Gun Violence at these websites:

Faiths United Against Gun Violence - a diverse coalition of faith-based organizations united to confront gun violence.

States United Against Gun Violence – a 30-state gun violence prevention groups working to make communities safer through common sense laws and anti-violence education.

Americans for Responsible Solutions – an organization founded by Gabby Giffords and her husband to encourage elected officials to stand up for solutions to prevent gun violence and protect responsible gun ownership.

The Trace- a nonprofit media organization dedicated to expanding media coverage of guns in the U.S.

Campaign to Unload – a group of 50 organizations united to encourage institutional investors and pension fund managers to divest gun stocks.

Center for Gun Policy & Research at Johns Hopkins University – an academic organization engaged in scholarly research, policy analysis and agenda-setting public discourse related to gun violence prevention.

Coalition to Stop Gun Violence – a group of 47 national organizations working to secure freedom from gun violence through research, strategic engagement and effective policy advocacy.

Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence – a national organization whose mission is to create a safer America for all of us that will lead to a dramatic reduction in gun deaths and injuries.