The Acts of Convention
| Resolution Number: | 2024-A166 |
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| Title: | Urge Specific Gun Control Policies |
| Legislative Action Taken: | Concurred |
| Final Text: | |
Resolved, That the 81st General Convention reaffirm the gun violence resolutions of previous General Conventions and the Executive Council as summarized in Policy for Action; An Index of Episcopal Church Public Policy Resolutions; and be it further
Resolved, That the 81st General Convention acknowledge that the right to life is one of the unalienable rights on which the Republic is based; that the right to bear arms is guaranteed by the Constitution; that our unalienable and Constitutional rights are not absolute; and that governments must balance gun ownership and control of violence with the duty to ensure security and public safety; and be it further
Resolved, That the 81st General Convention strongly urge federal, state, and local, governments to pass objective, shall-issue licensing laws for sellers, buyers, and users of firearms that require a waiting period, finger printing, background check, mental health evaluation, minimum age of purchaser, training tailored to the firearm being purchased and include the proper use, maintenance, and safe storage of the firearm and that said license must be renewed periodically; and be it further
Resolved, That the 81st General Convention strongly urge the federal government to develop a system of gun registration that links domestically manufactured and imported firearms by serial number to the manufacturer, wholesaler, retailer, original owner, and all subsequent owners and that all of the individuals in this chain of ownership must be licensed as outlined in the previous resolve above; and be it further
Resolved, That the 81st General Convention strongly urge the federal government to work with manufacturers to develop nuclear barcode or other taggants and to require the use of these taggants in gunpowder so that the manufacturer and chain of distribution of batches of gunpowder may be traced; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this Resolution be referred to the Executive Council, the Office of Government Relations, the President of the United States, members of the Federal Congress, and all dioceses for appropriate action.
| Citation: | General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Louisville, 2024 (New York: General Convention, 2024), pp. 780-781. |
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Legislative History
| Author: | Legislative Committee on Social Justice and United States Policy |
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| Originating House: | House of Deputies |
| Originating Committee: | Social Justice and United States Policy |
House of Deputies
The House of Deputies Committee on Social Justice and United States Policy presented its Report #8 on Resolution A166 (Registration of Firearms; Licensing of Firearm Sellers, Buyers, and Users; Use of Taggants) and moved adoption.
Original Text of Resolution:
(A166)
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,
That the 81st General Convention reaffirm the gun violence resolutions of previous General Conventions and the Executive Council as summarized in Policy for Action; An Index of Episcopal Church Public Policy Resolutions; and be it further
Resolved, That the 81st General Convention acknowledge that the right to life is one of the unalienable rights on which the Republic is based; that the right to bear arms is guaranteed by the Constitution; that our unalienable and Constitutional rights are not absolute; and that governments must balance gun ownership and control of violence with the duty to ensure security and public safety; and be it further
Resolved, That the 81st General Convention strongly urge federal, state, and local, governments to pass objective, shall-issue licensing laws for sellers, buyers, and users of firearms that require a waiting period, finger printing, background check, mental health evaluation, minimum age of purchaser, training tailored to the firearm being purchased and include the proper use, maintenance, and safe storage of the firearm and that said license must be renewed periodically; and be it further
Resolved, That the 81st General Convention strongly urge the federal government to develop a system of gun registration that links domestically manufactured and imported firearms by serial number to the manufacturer, wholesaler, retailer, original owner, and all subsequent owners and that all of the individuals in this chain of ownership must be licensed as outlined in the previous resolve above; and be it further
Resolved, That the 81st General Convention strongly urge the federal government to work with manufacturers to develop nuclear barcode or other taggants and to require the use of these taggants in gunpowder so that the manufacturer and chain of distribution of batches of gunpowder may be traced; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this Resolution be referred to the Executive Council, the Office of Government Relations, the President of the United States, members of the Federal Congress, and all dioceses for appropriate action.
Motion carried
Resolution adopted
(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #117)
House of Bishops
The House of Bishops Committee on Social Justice and United States Policy presented its Report #33 on HD Message #117 on Resolution A166 (Registration of Firearms; Licensing of Firearm Sellers, Buyers, and Users; Use of Taggants) and moved concurrence.
Motion carried
The House concurred
(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #172)
Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, June 26.
| Abstract: | The 81st General Convention acknowledges that governments must balance the right to bear arms with its duty to ensure security and public safety. The Convention urges licensing laws for seller, buyers, and users of firearms; the development of a system of gun registration; and the development of taggants for gunpowder tracing. |
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