Ending our addiction to gun violence

Dear Minooka UMC Found Family,

Nearly every week, I include in our prayer time some version of: We must pray and work to end our societal addiction to guns and our addiction to gun violence as a way to solve our problems.

You might (reasonably) wonder: What should we do?

One of the blessings of being part of a large mainline denomination like The United Methodist Church is our shared, communal history of advocating for justice. In other words, we offer resources for reflecting on and addressing most issues. Gun violence, tragically, is one of those. 

Today, I recommend this article: Ways United Methodists can take a stand against gun violence. 

That article offers eight ways to bring to life the better world, free of gun violence, that God dreams of and calls us to create. Let me highlight a portion: 

“We are called [in the Book of Resolutions] ‘to advocate at the local and national levels for laws that prevent or reduce gun violence.’ Some of these measures include:

— Universal background checks on all gun purchases, ensuring that all guns are sold through licensed retailers, and establishing a minimum age of 21 years for a gun purchase or possession.

— Prohibiting those convicted of violent crimes, those under restraining order due to the threat of violence, and those with serious mental illness that may be a danger to themselves or others from purchasing a gun.

— Ensuring greater access to services for those suffering from mental illness.

— Banning magazine and weapons designed to fire multiple rounds each time the trigger is pulled.

— Promoting technologies that help law-enforcement agencies trace crime guns and promote public safety.”

Again, read the full article here.