RELEASE: Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence Demands Action to Prevent Future Mass Shootings
Date: October 3, 2017
Contact: Claire Markham, Center for American Progress
Phone: 202-741-6305
Email: [email protected]
Interfaith Coalition Calls on Congress to Reject NRA’s Agenda and Work to Reduce Gun Violence
Washington, D.C. — With communities of faith across the country, members of Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence express anguish for the victims of the mass shooting in Las Vegas and grieve with their loved ones. Faiths United’s more than 50 endorsing organizations join millions of Americans in prayer and reflection over the almost constant violence our nation allows to be inflicted on our people, and are moved by that prayer to action. Faiths United issued the following statement:
“We maintain the deeply held convictions that life is sacred, death and injury from gun violence is reducible, and there is a moral imperative to advance public policies that will make communities safer. We believe in the power of prayer, while acknowledging that prayer without action is inadequate. We know statements like this will not prevent the next mass shooting.
“We reject the evils of complacency and greed that work in tandem to prevent our elected officials from passing legislation to make communities safer. Even at this moment, complacency and greed tempt some members of the House of Representatives to promote harmful legislation like the SHARE Act and concealed carry reciprocity, measures sought by the National Rifle Association and the gun lobby that would further endanger our communities.
“At least 59 people are dead, more than 500 are physically injured, and thousands more have been emotionally scarred because of this 273rd mass shooting in 2017. We hope they will be the last of our siblings, children, parents, colleagues, neighbors, and friends to be killed by guns. Each additional life lost due to inaction in Congress further diminishes our nation’s humanity. We call on Congress to abandon the SHARE Act and concealed carry reciprocity efforts, strengthen and expand background checks, and reduce civilian access to military-style weapons.”
Related resources: http://faithsunited.org/
For more information or to speak to an expert from the Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence coalition, contact Claire Markham at [email protected] or 202-741-6305.
Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence is a diverse coalition of more than 50 national denominations and faith-based organizations united by the call of our faiths to confront America’s gun violence epidemic and to rally support for policies that reduce death and injury from gunfire.