The TRS Gun Violence Prevention group educates and mobilizes the congregation on common sense gun safety measures. Any interested TRS congregant is welcome to join the group’s advocacy and public education efforts, including lobbying for gun violence prevention laws; educating the community on gun safety laws and practices; and increasing community awareness of gun violence prevention through such activities as GVP Shabbat and participation in the annual City of Falls Church Memorial Day Parade.
For more information on national efforts to reduce gun violence, we recommend these resources:
Gun Violence Prevention Strategies
In May of 2025 a panel of experts spoke to our congregation about “Five Strategies for Preventing Gun Violence” which include Firearm Purchaser Licensing, Extreme Risk Protection Orders, Safe Gun Storage, and Regulating the Public Carry of Firearms. To learn more about these proposals, view the recording of this 90 minute program above.
For a fact sheet go to this link.
To learn more about this powerful tool see this Fact Sheet, available in both English and Spanish. For more in depth training, view a narrated slide presentation on YouTube narrated by Cantor Michael Shochet on how to use the Virginia ESRO law:
Click here for Spanish.
You Can PREVENT a Gun Tragedy!
Virginia’s Emergency Substantial Risk Order, (ESRO) commonly known as “Red Flag” Law, can be used to temporarily take firearms from a person who the court finds is a substantial risk for harm to self or others.
If you suspect someone might be at risk, call a non-emergency line to start the legal process:
**If there is immediate danger, call or text 911.
For those experiencing a mental health crisis, call the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
