Scope: US

Because Unitarian Universalists believe in the worth and dignity of everyone and have respect for all life;

Whereas General Assemblies of the Unitarian Universalist Association have proposed national handgun legislation in past years (1972, 1976, 1991);

Whereas handguns are too easily available in the United States through gun shows and second-party purchases;

Whereas the number of deaths and injuries in the United States as a result of handguns, whether intentional or unintentional, is many times greater than in any other industrialized nation in the world;

Whereas the number of suicides by handguns in the United States exceeds the number of other deaths involving handguns; and

Whereas handgun owners need to be held responsible for the possession of handguns and consequences of their use, which process will be facilitated by handgun registration;

Therefore the 2000 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association urges its member congregations to demand federal legislation requiring registration and licensing of handguns and to urge the passing of legislation applicable to handguns such as H.R. 4066, a bill currently under consideration in the United States House of Representatives, the passing of which would result in improved oversight of current gun laws.