Dear ones,
With heavy hearts we watched yet another school shooting unfold that resulted in the slaughter of six people, three were 9-year-old children. Once again, cowardly lawmakers refuse to do the right thing and pass laws that will protect our nation’s children. Guns are the number one cause of death for children in our country, but gun laws are stalled in the divided Congress. We have had 130 mass shootings in less than three months.
“More guns do not stop crime. Guns kill more children each year than auto accidents. More children die by gunfire in a year than on-duty police officers and active military members. Guns are a public health crisis, just like COVID, and in this, we are failing our children, over and over again.” Read the article by Scientific American, “The Science is Clear: Gun Control Saves Lives. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-science-is-clear-gun-control-saves-lives/.
And, as the grandmother of a transgender grandchild, I am deeply concerned at the weaponization of gender-affirming care by some lawmakers to avoid doing the right thing.
We can’t let them compound the tragedy and we join Side With Love in solidarity with their statement in response to the Nashville School Shooting.
Here’s how we can take action and fight back:
Fight against anti-LGBTQ+Bills.
https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/human-rights-campaign-working-to-defeat-340-anti-lgbtq-bills-at-state-level-already-150-of-which-target-transgender-people-highest-number-on-record
Demand a ban on assault weapons.
https://www.bradyunited.org/act/ban-assault-weapons
Support Universal background checks.
https://actionfund.sandyhookpromise.org/issues/gun-safety/universal-background-checks/
Here is a link to the Wear Orange event that is being organized by the local Moms Demand Action Against Gun Violence group. https://uuasheville.org/calls-to-action/
Join me next Wednesday, April 5 for a Peace Vespers service for music, candles, lament, reflection, prayers, and brainstorming ways we can make a difference. Vegetarian Soup and bread at 6 PM, Vespers begins at 7 PM.
In faith,
Rev. Cathy Harrington, Interim Lead Minister