The Church’s Role in Addressing Gun Violence as a Public Health Crisis
Zoe Scrivener, WCC Gun Violence Prevention Intern
Next week is National Public Health Week, an event that aims to educate the public on key health issues and advocate for policies that promote community health. As this week of awareness approaches, it serves as a reminder to reflect on the urgent needs of our communities, including the need to address gun violence as a public health crisis.
Last weekend, I attended the “Healing the Healers” event at Carthage College, which focused on the emotional and physical toll of gun violence on gun violence survivors, healthcare workers, and families right here in Wisconsin. In this article, I will explore the definition of public health and why gun violence is considered a public health crisis. I will also discuss the church's unique call to serve as a center of public health—providing healing, support, and advocacy for those affected.
What is Public Health?
Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of communities through prevention, education, and policy. The World Health Organization defines it by its aim: to provide “maximum benefit for the largest number of people.” Public health is not about the desires of the individual, but rather the needs of the community at large and the dangers posed by social, environmental, and economic conditions. A public health crisis is identified when a situation has health consequences that have the potential to overwhelm healthcare systems and cause significant harm.
Gun Violence as a Public Health Crisis
In 2023, approximately 46,000 individuals died from gun-related injuries nation-wide. 772 of these deaths were in our home state. In Wisconsin, gun violence has been on the rise. Between 2012 and 2021, the rate of gun deaths in the state increased by 62%, while the national average increased by 39% in the same period. Not only is this a present issue that needs to be addressed, but there also is a fear that if we do not address gun violence now, it will continue to affect us more and more. Facts and statistics like these allow us to identify gun violence as a public health issue with trends showing that the danger it poses to our community may only become greater if we do not react. Not only that, but these numbers showing gun deaths do not represent the number of friends, family members, healthcare workers, and community members that are greatly affected by the trauma of gun violence.
At Carthage College, Denzell Brown, founder of Brave Behind the Bullet!, spoke on trauma recovery and post-traumatic growth. Brown discussed different forms of trauma and how it is carried in the body, how it can be passed generationally, and how survivors struggle to live with the trauma inflicted by violence. The effect of gun violence is not just measured in death tolls, or by the number of people who have been physically harmed by firearms, but also by the way an incident can continue to affect a community long after it has taken place. Perhaps people have lost a sense of safety or security, or have lost a loved one, or even experience trauma based on the past experiences of family members.
Dr. Kellie Snooks, another event speaker who works in pediatric critical care in Milwaukee, shared with us the overwhelming experience of caring for young victims of gun-violence. In one care room, there can be teams of about ten people working to save their patient – ten people who are experiencing the fear and emotional distress that gun violence has caused, even if they do not know the victim personally. These healthcare workers are not immune to trauma, and they take that home with them, too.
What Can We Do? Churches as a Center of Public Health
Pastor Adam Miller-Stubbendick, the campus pastor at Carthage College, began the event with a focus on two words: “conspire” and “holy.” “Conspire,” in its literal definition, means “to breathe together” or “to act in harmony.” When we identify a problem like gun violence in our community, it is our job to conspire, to act together as a unified force. The word “holy” in its literal definition means “set apart.” As church leaders and Christians, we are asked to set ourselves apart, to speak up, to create sanctuary for those who are suffering. We are called to confront the challenges that affect our communities, regardless of how difficult or uncomfortable it may be.
Healing takes place in hospitals and doctor’s offices, but it also occurs in the church and the community. Perhaps not all of us can stitch up wounds or perform surgeries, but we can all deal with the harm that surgical tools cannot touch. Denzell Brown emphasized the importance of creating a sense of safety, to reduce the fear of harm, and that is where I believe that churches can step in as leaders. The church has a long historical tie to public health: the Book of Leviticus is considered the world’s first written health code, and the first hospitals were started by religious orders. Faith-based organizations are still vital to public health efforts, according to the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity. They are trusted leaders in the community that can motivate members to participate in public health initiatives.
Take this next week to think about how you and your church would like to be a leader in public health, and that may look different based on the community you live in. Maybe it’s advocating for safe gun policy like Red Flag laws or talking about the effects of trauma with your congregation. Maybe it’s providing care packages for healthcare workers or speaking with young people in your community about their worries for the future. Take time to decide how you can set yourself apart and act in harmony with those around you.
One way your congregation can get involved is by participating in Wear Orange Weekend. Click here for resources.
