PLEASE DO SOMETHING!

​Once more our Nation and the World stands stunned at the tragic and needless loss of life. The latest school killings in Parkland, Florida underscore the lack of political will and the low moral caliber of many charged with political, civic and governmental leadership. It continues to confound reasonable people that a gun lobby dedicated to nurturing a culture of death and profit can cause otherwise reasonable people to continuously turn their backs on the safety, welfare and lives of our children.

​Both the language of the Supreme Court and the applicable Constitutional Amendments recognize that the freedoms in question are to “ensure domestic tranquility” and that there can and should be reasonable limitations on the use of guns. This directly contradicts any notion that we should be able to take the law into our own hands and use assault weapons against each other.

The Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County thus stands with the parents, students and community of Parkland, Florida. Our hearts are broken as our grief cries out for justice.

Lori Alhadeff, mother of slain 14 year old Alyssa, cried out, “Please do something!” Her voice must not go unheard. Her grief must not be dismissed. Her child and all the slain children who have died from governmental inaction and the excessive protection of gun rights must not be forgotten. The Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County hears Lori’s plea and pledges to be a voice for those who have lost their voice.​

Our Council demands that citizens, politicians, legislatures, and civil and governmental leaders take immediate action to restrict military style arms from entering into the general population. There is no reason why any person in our country needs to obtain or use an assault weapon. We call for the passage of nation-wide gun safety laws so that those who do possess arms may do so responsibly.

As the Supreme Court itself has stated, “Like most rights, the right secured by the Second Amendment is not unlimited … [It is] … not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose.” The time has long since arrived for our legislators to take heed and enact proper limitations to ensure the domestic tranquility of all accordingly, and especially the safety and well-being of our children.

​The time has also come to listen to the cries and wisdom of the children. Consider the bold words of David Hogg, a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. When David was interviewed by several News outlets, David said what we must hear and act upon:

“We’re children. You guys are the adults. You need to take some action and play a role. Work together. Get over your politics and get something done!” … We don’t need ideas, we need action. We need action from our elected officials and we need action from the civic public, because without that, this is going to happen again. … Any action at this point, instead of complete stagnancy and blaming the other side of the political aisle, would be a step in the right direction. And working together to save these children’s lives is what this country needs. … People get used to what’s going on and that’s not OK. We’re habituating to this and what happens when we do that is children are dying and they will continue to die unless we stop it. Stand up and take action.”

The Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County, by its Governing Board.

 

Since this statement came out, our President, Terry Clark has written an article on the Moral Imperative for Addressing Gun Violence here.   Moral Imperative