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\noindent Proposed common advocacy position on gun violence:

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The United States is increasingly plagued with deadly shootings\,--\,very often of multiple persons\,--\,and frequently using military style weapons. In the face of this epidemic of gun related violence, we support the following steps:

\begin{itemize}
  \item A background check must be conducted before the sale of any firearm as part of a national system of enforcement.
  \item The sale of military style weapons to civilians must be banned nationally and their import prohibited.
  \item Red flag laws must be enacted to permit firearms to be taken from a person identified as a danger to him or her self or to others.
  \item Regulations must require the safe storage of firearms and that a lost or stolen firearm be reported.
  \item A permit must be required to carry a firearm in public.
\end{itemize}

While advocacy at the state level is important, ultimately these regulations should be adopted nationally to prevent their evasion by crossing state lines.

We emphasize that in advocating for these regulations we do not intend to inhibit the safe sale and responsible use of firearms for hunting or target practice.

We also encourage additional funding for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to conduct firearm dealer inspections and to study how to detect potential perpetrators of gun violence.

%We urge our local congregations to vigorously promote these objectives in their communities, and to encourage their elected representatives to support them.
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