Resolved, That the 81st General Convention of The Episcopal Church hereby urge Congress and all officials at the national, state, and local levels to work to have gun violence recognized and defined as a public health epidemic and national health crisis; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention urge Congress and all officials at the national, state and local levels to work together, to enact legislation and promote policies that protect the rights of all Americans to live in safe environments free from gun violence, and to allocat sufficient funding for education, awareness and research; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention urge the reform of the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) to ensure equal access to benefits without discrimination to families in communities with higher-than-average rates of homicide, and designate funding to provide community-based mental health services and supports to families who have lost loved ones to gun violence, homicide and suicide; and be it further

Resolved, That the 81st General Convention direct, consistent with established policies and procedures, that the Executive Council refer this resolution to the Office of Government Relations, so that it may take all actions necessary to accomplish the intentions and purposes of this resolution.