TOGETHER WE CAN PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE
1. Make a panel for the Vision Quilt. Tell others about the Vision Quilt and encourage them to contribute their vision.
We also welcome new volunteers. Email visionquilt@gmail.com to find how to participate.
2. Donate to the Vision Quilt. Your donations will help us buy fabric paint and canvas so that K-12 and college students can make panels. We are also reaching out to high risk kids and working with them around preventing gun violence.
3. Talk to friends and family and encourage them to open dialogue around this sensitive issue. Focus on root causes and potential solutions.
4. Invite friends and neighbors to a film night to watch and discuss films that address gun violence. Ask people what they will now do to help share what they have learned. Here are five films the Huffington Post says are worth watching.
5. Talk to your local, state and national elected representatives and tell them “enough is enough” and encourage them to stand up for gun safety and the prevention of gun violence.
6. Years ago we did not have the idea of “designated driver." People and the media began to use the phrase, “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive, When They Have Had Too Much to Drink." Think about how we might begin a norm which would foster something like, “If your neighbor or friend or relative is depressed or enraged, see if you can safely encourage that person to give up their gun for a period of time or seek support.”
7. Talk to a gun owner to better understand why someone would own guns. It can be eye opening and perhaps help create new ideas for gun safety and sense.
8. Create a storytelling event at your local school, community center or place of worship in which people share their good and bad experiences with guns. Ask people to reflect on how the bad stories could have ended differently.
9. Go into a gun shop and ask the owner to explain their feelings on the issue of gun violence and ask them how they would prevent gun violence.
10. Ask teacher friends to assign gun violence and gun safety readings, videos, and writings to find out what students know and are thinking about this topic. Ask students to create a project that depicts their thoughts and potential solutions to the problem.
11. Find out what your local elementary, middle and high schools are doing related to student safety in case of a potential shooter. Ask them what kind of support they might need related to parent or community involvement.
12. Post your feelings on social media. You have the power of the Internet to influence friends, family, friends of friends and even people you do not know.
13. Research the gun laws in your town, county and state regarding open carry, background checks, etc. Decide how these laws could be improved.
14. Research what other communities are doing related to preventing gun violence. Encourage members of your community to implement these best practices. Share these ideas with us: visionquilt@gmail.com.
15. Sign up on the Internet for organizations that are actively trying to prevent gun violence such as:
We also welcome new volunteers. Email visionquilt@gmail.com to find how to participate.
2. Donate to the Vision Quilt. Your donations will help us buy fabric paint and canvas so that K-12 and college students can make panels. We are also reaching out to high risk kids and working with them around preventing gun violence.
3. Talk to friends and family and encourage them to open dialogue around this sensitive issue. Focus on root causes and potential solutions.
4. Invite friends and neighbors to a film night to watch and discuss films that address gun violence. Ask people what they will now do to help share what they have learned. Here are five films the Huffington Post says are worth watching.
5. Talk to your local, state and national elected representatives and tell them “enough is enough” and encourage them to stand up for gun safety and the prevention of gun violence.
6. Years ago we did not have the idea of “designated driver." People and the media began to use the phrase, “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive, When They Have Had Too Much to Drink." Think about how we might begin a norm which would foster something like, “If your neighbor or friend or relative is depressed or enraged, see if you can safely encourage that person to give up their gun for a period of time or seek support.”
7. Talk to a gun owner to better understand why someone would own guns. It can be eye opening and perhaps help create new ideas for gun safety and sense.
8. Create a storytelling event at your local school, community center or place of worship in which people share their good and bad experiences with guns. Ask people to reflect on how the bad stories could have ended differently.
9. Go into a gun shop and ask the owner to explain their feelings on the issue of gun violence and ask them how they would prevent gun violence.
10. Ask teacher friends to assign gun violence and gun safety readings, videos, and writings to find out what students know and are thinking about this topic. Ask students to create a project that depicts their thoughts and potential solutions to the problem.
11. Find out what your local elementary, middle and high schools are doing related to student safety in case of a potential shooter. Ask them what kind of support they might need related to parent or community involvement.
12. Post your feelings on social media. You have the power of the Internet to influence friends, family, friends of friends and even people you do not know.
13. Research the gun laws in your town, county and state regarding open carry, background checks, etc. Decide how these laws could be improved.
14. Research what other communities are doing related to preventing gun violence. Encourage members of your community to implement these best practices. Share these ideas with us: visionquilt@gmail.com.
15. Sign up on the Internet for organizations that are actively trying to prevent gun violence such as:
- Everytown for Gun Safety Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's group which includes Moms Demand Action, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, Everytown Survivor Network
- Coalition To Stop Gun Violence, a coalition of 47 national organizations
- Cure Violence: Treating violence as an epidemic by detecting and interrupting conflicts, identifying and treating the highest risk individuals, changing social norms. Watch the video: Gary Slutkin, MD: Can Violence be Cured?
- Moms Rising looks at many relevant issues including gun violence.
- Americans for Responsible Solutions, former Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford's organization
- Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence started by Jim and Sarah Brady after the assassination attempt on President Reagan
- Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence is a national law center focused on providing comprehensive legal expertise in support of gun violence prevention and the promotion of smart gun laws.
- The Trace: a website that provides detailed information about gun violence in the United States.
“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” -Mother Theresa