Associated Ministries press release.
PIERCE COUNTY, WA – Faith communities across Pierce County will unite to protest, be a public witness against, and cultivate actions towards ending gun violence during the weekend of August 12-14.
A group of local congregation/community members and faith and spiritual leaders have been meeting to consider what faith and spiritual communities in Pierce County can do together to end gun violence. Their first action is a “weekend of protest against gun violence” observed on August 12, 13 and/or 14. Each community decides what this will look like for themselves – incorporating something into regular services or creating a special event. The idea is to “be together,” yet in each of their own spaces, unified in a stance against gun violence through raising awareness and inviting people into deeper engagement. The AM website (www.associatedministries.org) lists resources and ideas on how congregations can be involved.
WHAT: Expressions of Protest Against Gun Violence
WHEN: Friday-Sunday, August 12-14, 2022
WHERE: Within Congregations Across Pierce County
WHO: People of Faith in Pierce County
For more information, contact Sandy Windley at 253-426-1506 or sandyw@associatedministries.org.
There is no such thing as “gun violence.”
I have to agree with Kerpal on this one. While the Interfaith Alliance appears to have good heart and good mind, they have obviously been conned into thinking guns are the problem.
Guns are inanimate objects and are no problem, what so ever. They are a tool like a kitchen blender or chain saw.
Evil doing, hate mongering, mental defects, dopers, and criminals are the problem or to put it more succinctly, people are the problem.
In 2020 according to CDC 43% or 19,384 people were murdered with guns out of the total death count of 45,222 gun deaths. Had the victims been armed, the death toll of innocent victims including children might well have plumetted.
In 2020 according to CDC 54% or 24,292 people used firearms to commit suicide. If we eliminate guns, suicidal individuals will still die using other means. Having investigated numerous suicides, I am well aware of many of the methods available for taking one’s own life without the use of a gun.
Rather than eliminate guns which is an inappropriate action that prevents honest citizens from protecting their families, eliminate the bad behavior and / or the ability of violent citizens to victimize others..
How do we do that? #1. Lock them up and throw the key away when appropriate. #2. Make mental institutional commitments when appropriate. #3. Make available mental and addictive drug counseling. #4. Use the zero tollerance policy that has proven so effective by enforceing all laws, ordinances, and rules as appropriate. #5. Replace individuals in power such as prosecuting attorneys, council members and mayors who are soft on crime.
Ignore me if you wish, but know that if you were able to eliminate all the guns on the planet, evil doers will continue to injure and kill victims with knives, hammars, rocks, vehicles or chain saws.
According to NHTSA, last year approximately 42,000 people were killed by vehicles. If we are going to kill the Second Amendment and take everyone’s guns, before that happens we need to take everyone’s cars away. More people die in car crashes than die from being assulated with a firearm. Alternatively, we could teach America’s mediocre and dangerous drivers how to drive using education and aggressive traffic enforcement. Most drivers on our roads are mediocre at best. I have experience in these two arenas and know that education and enforcement can greatly reduce vehicle deaths.
Guns are not the problem. People are the problem. We cannot eliminate violence until we gain a clear vision of what the real problem is.
Joseph Boyle – Former resident City of Lakewood for half a century.
There is also a racial, sex and age component to “gun violence” that must be addressed. otherwise you are “aiming” at the wrong target. African Americans are as much as three times over represented (in some states as high as 6+ times) as both perpetrators of “gun violence” and as victims of that violence. Blacks are 4 times more likely to be killed by guns then whites. Young black males are 18 times more likely killed due to “gun violence” than their white peers. It is a relatively small component of the African American community, young black males (15-35 years old), who represent 2% of our population yet account for the 38% of that violence. Want to fix “gun violence”? Then I’d suggest you tackle the real problem(s) in the African American community and you’ll go a long way to solving the problem. We can’t blame an inanimate object (gun) for the violence. It’s the person pulling the trigger that we have to deal with. Ignoring the “elephant in the room” does nothing to solve the problem.
https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/blog/gun-violence/ten-gun-violence-facts-about-black-indigenous-and-people-of-color/
Mr. John Arbeeny, Well said.
Joseph Boyle – Lakewood resident 1/2 century +.
The thing most disturbing to me is the thousands of deaths that could have been avoided if the hard topics of mental illness, illegal drug dealing/use and the soft approach to criminality were addressed decades ago. Instead we are focusing on a media generated red herring, gun violence, that has only helped self centered politicians enact laws that have resulted in tens of millions guns being sold, all to often to people who aren’t likely to learn proper use of firearms. Instead of pulling people and resources together to address the underlying issues of violence, we have become divided and more people die; all to often innocent people including children.
Well said. I hope our politicians are listening and that they have the required ethical outlook to start working the problem the right way instead of just promoting ideas to gain more votes.
Joseph Boyle
Guns ARE the problem.
Please explain.
How is an inanimate object like a gun a problem? Based on your viewpoint, cars, chainsaws, rocks, tree limbs, golf clubs, knives, swords are all a problem. Do you recommend we have government confiscate all these items & more? If not, how can you say guns are a problem?
Guns are not a problem. People & ignorance are problems.
Joseph Boyle
I’m late to this one but I just want to go on record saying:
Anyone who is ok with wontonly taking the property; the life; or the God-given rights of another person – they are the problem.
We have a Constitutional right to defend against that thief.
Calling for gun control to mask one’s cultural failures, is like a fox coaxing a lamb into the bushes.