Unitarian Universalist FaithAction NJ
A UU voice for justice, equity and compassion in NJ
Sunday service at the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood
Please join Guest Speaker Katie Byron for her sermon on “Guns or Glitter: White Masculinity and a Culture of Violence”
The Plate Collection will go to support Moms Demand Action, a grassroots gun violence prevention group that lobbies for common sense gun laws.
On Wednesday, February 21, 2018, GVP activists and allies joined students, teachers and the NJ 3rd Congressional District Action Group for the United We Stand for Gun Safety Rally in Marlton, NJ. Below is the text of a speech I delivered that afternoon.
To all present today, thank you for coming. Never underestimate the power of standing up for a cause you believe in. To the students of Stoneman Douglas, I say “you are not alone”. We will stand with you today, next week and for as long as it takes to end the scourge of gun violence in America. Last week you sat huddled in a darkened classroom while the sound of gunshots signaled the injury or death of fellow students and educators. Yesterday, some of you traveled by bus to the Florida State House in Tallahassee, Florida, to implore legislators to discuss a ban on assault weapons. I ask you how many AR-15s do gun enthusiasts use for hunting or shooting at a range? Despite this reasonable request, lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to reject bringing the issue of assault weapons to the floor for discussion. To these lawmakers, we say “Shame on you.”
The mass shooting was carried out by a young man with a history of mental health problems. Mental health plays a significant role in mass shootings. Overall, it is a part but not the heart of the number of gun fatalities annually. President Trump recently said the US needs better mental health treatment to reduce gun violence. If the President sincerely believes this, he can dust off the Obama regulation he rolled back in early 2017, which restricted the access of a mentally unstable person to guns.
The CDC estimates there are in excess of 30 thousand gun deaths each year in America. Japan and Australia average less than 100. Do Americans suffer from mental illness 100X more than these countries? Or, are there too many guns on the streets and in the homes of America? Guns are the third leading cause of injury-related deaths in the US, after poisoning and car accidents. The cost of care to US ERs and the medical system is about 8.6 billion, according to Giffords Law Center. This is a public health epidemic. Listen to the story of a woman who survived the Columbine HS shooting in 1999. Amy Over, in TheDaily Beast, recalled the first day her daughter attended kindergarten. Amy said she thought she would experience joy. Instead Amy had a panic attack. She later realized she was afraid to leave her daughter. Gun shootings affect entire families and last many years.
So what can we do? We can give of our time, our talents and our treasure. There are several GVP groups here that would be happy to have you join their volunteer efforts, as well as donations. We have the power of the pen to write to our legislators about a particular bill or about gun safety, in general. The most important thing we can do is VOTE. Today, I have brought along a pink slip for a congress person who takes money from the NRA. I say to this legislator “your time is up”. Who will join me? (Others held up pink slips)
Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Responds to
the Oct. 1, 2017 Las Vegas Massacre
On 10/1/17, 58 people were killed and around 500 injured in the largest mass shooting in modern American history. This number was made possible with the aid of a bump stock device which effectively converts a semiautomatic weapon into an automatic one, similar to a machine gun. A former Iraq Vet concert goer later told NPR it was like the warfare he’d experienced in Iraq.
There have been multiple mass shootings since 26 children and educators were fatally shot at Sandy Hook Elementary in December 0f 2012. To date, Congress has failed to demonstrate the moral courage to enact a single piece of meaningful legislation to decrease gun violence in the US. The gun lobby spends tens of millions to support candidates who comply with their dictates. Sadly, Congress members have placed their own re-election above the public safety of their constituents. As American citizens, we have the power of our voices and votes to compel our elected representatives to act on our behalf. As Unitarians, we have a moral imperative to live our principles. As such, we need to support the inherent worth of every person and work towards a world that is safe, just and peaceful.
In 1991, NJ passed an Assault Weapons Ban into law. In 1994, Congress took NJ’s example and passed a National Ban on Assault Weapons. In 2004, Congress, under George W. Bush, allowed this law, which had a sunset clause, to expire. Assault weapons are designed for use in battle and have no place on our streets. It is time to reinstate the National Assault Weapons Ban.
Secondly, we need universal background checks. Ninety percent of Americans support this. Universal background checks would help us keep guns out of the hands of individuals who are dangerous to themselves or others. This includes those convicted of domestic abuse, felons and the seriously mentally unstable. It would stem the rate of gun fatalities by suicide, which represents more than 60% of the annual gun deaths.
With crisis comes opportunity. Make your voice heard by contacting your federal representatives in the House and Senate. Urge your representatives to reinstate the National Assault Weapons Ban and Universal Background Checks today.
Those interested in learning more can contact Jeannine Coyne, the UULM Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chair at jeanninemcoyne@outlook.com.
Jeannine M Coyne
Chair, UULM of NJ Gun Violence Prevention Task Force
