Page 2 - Executive Summary BC V- final

• Taking personal responsibility for gun security is critical. Not only is securing a firearm a concern
for the safety of the residents, there is also a big problem with stolen firearms, of which there are
4 million stolen each year. Most guns recovered in crimes are stolen.

5. There is a need for gun education at all levels -
• There is a need for accurate information regarding firearms so that people can make intelligent
decisions regarding their ownership and use.
• Education should be factual and unbiased.
• Firearm safety should be taught to both children and adults.
• There should be common sense gun education in schools.
• Teachers and students need to be better prepared for firearms emergencies, with policies and
practices in place.
• Anger management and conflict resolution instruction are important aspects for prevention of all
violence, including gun violence.

6. More effective background checks - Background checks need to be more effective and
comprehensive to keep guns out of the hands of those who may harm themselves or others.

• Have permits to purchase and background checks go through the police. Take the gun dealers
out of the process.
• In a background check, health is only identified as an issue if the applicant chooses to indicate
that it is. Make mental health status a required part of the background check.

7. Mental health - Bridge the gap between personal privacy issues, mental health and keeping guns out
of the hands of individuals who might be a danger to themselves and/or others.

8. Improve coordination across agencies - Improve coordination across health, social services, law
enforcement agencies, and the schools to share information about risk situations. Problems typically
exist for a long time before ending in a shooting or suicide.

9. Drugs and guns - acknowledge the link between guns and drugs (including alcohol). An increase in
drug culture and sales inevitably results in an increase in gun deaths.

10. Community dialog and community-based action - undertake the following:
• Holding conversations like the Big Conversation held on January 10 and 13 need to continue to
be held.
• Holding conversations to reduce fear, which is often the basis for wanting a gun.
• Initiating solutions at the community level - we do not need to wait for the state or federal
government to act
• Getting people to listen to each other, with the focus on violence, not gun control.
• Spreading the concept of civil dialogues.
• Addressing the effects of poverty, racism, and other forms of oppression that result in gun
violence.
• Changing our society's culture of violence.

11. Take a faith-based approach - Love your neighbor. Teach and talk peace. Address fears.

The Big Conversation is a project of Middleham and St. Peter's Episcopal Parish, 10210 HG Trueman Road,
Lusby, MD 20657. For more information about the Big Conversation and our church, contact us at 410-326-4948,
on our website at www.middlehamandstpeters.org, or on our facebook page.