6 Ways Faith Communities Have Helped Prevent Gun Violence Since Newtown

[cbayer]

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/religion/news/2013/06/17/66637/6-ways-faith-communities-have-helped-prevent-gun-violence-since-newtown/


People gather during a ceremony at Edmond Town Hall in Newtown, Connecticut, on the six-month anniversary honoring the 20 children and 6 adults gunned down at Sandy Hook Elementary school.

By Eleni Towns | June 17, 2013

Six months ago this week, 20 children and 6 adults were killed in a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. The tragedy devastated the community and our entire nation. It also brought national attention to the problem of gun violence—which plagues many communities on a daily basis—and galvanized millions of Americans to support common-sense regulations to help reduce this threat. Since that tragic day, 5,091 more people have died from gun violence in America, including 366 children and teenagers.

Although Congress has failed to pass any federal legislation in the wake of the Newtown tragedy, a number of states have taken steps to pass laws that make their communities safer. These laws include universal background checks, bans on assault weapons, restrictions on high-capacity magazines, and increased funding to confiscate illegally owned weapons.

Faith leaders have played a key role in these state efforts. These leaders see firsthand the effects of gun violence in their communities; they are at the forefront, dealing with the aftermath of this violence by providing support to families and by working in these communities to help reduce violence. Faith leaders are lifting up the voices of those in their communities affected by gun violence, calling for civil and peaceful dialogue and advocating for common-sense violence-prevention measures.

Here are six ways in which faith leaders have helped bring about gun-violence prevention laws at the state level.

1. In Connecticut faith leaders from across the state joined faith leaders from Newtown to share stories about the effects that the Sandy Hook shooting had on their congregants and community and to demand legislative action. After the tragic shooting at the elementary school, clergy were some of the first responders, leading services to provide solace and hope for community members and funerals for the victims’ families. In the weeks and months after the tragic day, faith leaders met with legislators to share the victims’ stories and explain the impact of the shooting on the community. They preached sermons, provided public testimony, held rallies, drafted public letters and statements, and spoke publicly across the country about the importance of gun-violence prevention legislation. On Valentine’s Day faith leaders participated in a rally in Connecticut in support of the bipartisan legislation that was a response to the Newtown shooting. In April the state legislature passed a law that requires background checks for all gun purchases, bans the sale of high-capacity magazines, adds more than 100 guns to the state’s list of banned assault weapons, and develops a dangerous-weapon-offender registry.

more at link

[trotsky]

1. Good for these groups for doing the right thing.

Of course, none of what they did was only possible thanks to their faith. And perhaps some non-believers played a role too? But I'm sorry, that's inappropriate to mention, isn't it?