By Rev. Sandie Richards, Co-Coordinator
Cal-Pac Peace with Justice
Susan Orfanos is over it. Her son Telemachus Orfanos survived the Las Vegas shooting, but did not make it home from the Thousand Oaks shooting. In her anguish, she declares, “I DON’T WANT THOUGHTS. I DON’T WANT PRAYERS. I WANT GUN CONTROL.”
It is no wonder she feels that way. She has heard, “You are in our thoughts and prayers”, to mean, that’s all we will do– think and pray.
Following on the heels of the tragic massacre in a synagogue in Philadelphia, it certainly feels like prayers are not all there is. We need to take action.
So as faithful people, we will think deeply, pray fervently, and act effectively to help end this public health crisis in our nation.
Here are some resources and practical ways we can move toward more common sense safety measures for all:
- Join a group. The following groups are just a few that have local chapters all over the USA.
- The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence (www.BradyCampaign.org)
- March for Our Lives (www.marchforourlives.com)
- Everytown for Gun Safety (www.everytown.org)
- Cal Pac Peace with Justice (email your contact info to Pastor Sandie Richards peacewithjustice@calpacumc.org )
- Get more information. Sign up for updates from The Trace: Reporting on Guns and Gun Violence in America (www.TheTrace.org). This non-profit, non-partisan news source keeps up to date on current laws, shootings, and efforts to overcome the public health crisis in gun violence.
- United Methodist and Faith-Based Resources
- Our General Board of Church and Society has a good webpage to explain our perspective and action you can take (https://www.umcjustice.org/what-we-care-about/peace-with-justice/gun-violence-prevention )
- Join the National Gun Violence Prevention weekend, December 15-17, and hold a special service or vigil at your church. http://www.decembersabbath.org/
