As members of the Franklin Interfaith Council, we represent a variety of faiths and a wide spectrum of political views. We do not speak out about transitory issues. We make statements only insofar as they are imperatives coming out of all our traditions about what society needs to do.
It is with that understanding that we today declare our concern about the need to enact protections for our members and the members of our larger community from the epidemic of gun violence. The list of well-publicized mass shootings continues to grow: Tucson, Virginia Tech, Columbine, Aurora, Oak Creek, Newtown. There is no need for parents to bury their children and for clergy to officiate at these funerals. Meanwhile, with less publicity, gun violence takes eighty-three lives daily in the United States, including eight children and teens, with one child killed every three hours. Indeed, just since the killings in Newtown, three thousand, seven hundred, seventy-four people have been killed by firearms in this country.
Our traditions affirm, in the words of the Biblical Book of Leviticus, “Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor.” We as a society need to heed that command. It is time for us to act.
We leave the details of these actions to others better versed in them. We also appreciate that many good people own guns, whether for sport or for self defense. But we do know that no person who is mentally unstable should be allowed to purchase a weapon. And we do know that gun magazines capable of firing one hundred fifty rounds in five minutes, as the Newtown shooter did, have no role in civilian society.
As faith leaders, we need to inculcate in ourselves and in others a greater sense of concern for our fellow human beings, and we rededicate ourselves to that work. But our elected officials have work to do as well. We call on them to act with courage to make our communities and our world a safer place.