A Day of Love and Action: Valentine’s Vigil Against Gun Violence
This Valentine’s Day, the Peace Economy Project invites our community to gather in love, remembrance, and collective action at our Valentine’s Day Vigil Against Gun Violence, held on February 14, 2026, at 12:00 PM at the Deaconess Foundation.
Every year, we pause on a day traditionally devoted to love to honor those whose lives have been taken by gun violence—and to reaffirm our commitment to building communities where safety, accountability, and compassion can flourish. This vigil is part of PEP’s larger campaign advocating for stronger gun legislation, improved domestic violence protections, and public investments that prioritize human well-being over militarization.
Why We Gather: Gun Violence Is a Women’s Issue
Gun violence in the United States is often framed as a problem of public spaces—mass shootings, policing, or street violence. But for millions of women, the most dangerous place is their own home.
- A woman is killed by a current or former intimate partner every 12 hours in the U.S., and more than half of those murders involve a gun.
- Access to a firearm makes it five times more likely that an abusive partner will kill a woman.
- Black, Latina, Indigenous, and immigrant women face disproportionately high levels of firearm-related domestic violence, due to intersecting economic, racial, and systemic vulnerabilities.
These deaths rarely make national headlines. They unfold quietly, out of view, in living rooms, bedrooms, and parking lots—yet they reflect a pattern of violence as devastating as any national crisis. When guns are present in situations of domestic conflict, everyday disagreements can escalate into irreversible loss.
Our vigil acknowledges these women. We speak their names, honor their memories, and refuse to let their stories be forgotten.
Our Commitment
PEP’s work includes advocating for:
- Stronger domestic violence protections, including closing loopholes that allow abusers access to firearms.
- Policies that prioritize community safety, rather than militarized responses that often fail to protect women and marginalized communities.
- Redirecting resources toward housing, healthcare, education, and violence-prevention programs that create real safety.
Join Us in Love and Action
We welcome survivors, families, advocates, community members, and partners to stand with us on February 14. Together, we grieve, we remember, and we recommit to creating a world where every person—especially those most vulnerable to violence—can live free from fear.
Date: February 14, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: Deaconess Foundation, St. Louis
Your presence matters. Your voice matters.
Let us gather in shared purpose and shared hope.
