From message: "As I wrote last year, after the attempt on President Trump’s life in Butler, Pa., 'God calls this church to say a definitive ‘no’ to political violence now and in the future. Political violence has a long history but no place in democracy. This church belongs to God, and our unity in Christ is a grace-filled and healing gift in a fractured society.'"

Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reflects on the violence perpetrated by a gunman at a political rally in Butler, PA on July 13. “Last weekend's shooting has distressed and destabilized our nation. Political violence breeds fear and can set in motion cycles of violence that will further shatter us.”

The ELCA adopted its social message about gun-related violence and trauma in April, 2024. The message's themes focus on trauma, public health, and an ethic of shared responsibility for peacemaking, seeking to move beyond the strict polarization of gun rights vs. gun control.