USCCB: lobby senators on behalf of assault-weapon ban, universal background checks
April 03, 2013
The Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is urging Catholics to “contact your senators and urge them to support legislation that will help reduce gun violence.”
“As you consider legislation to help reduce gun violence, please support the following policies: require universal background checks for all gun purchases; limit civilian access to high-capacity weapons and ammunition magazines; and, make gun trafficking a federal crime,” the suggested e-mail to senators reads.
“As you discern the final legislation to be considered, support amendments that: ban assault weapons; and, resist expanding minimum mandatory sentences as punishment for gun violations,” the suggested e-mail continues.
“The rising rate of incarceration partially stems from the pervasive use of minimum mandatory sentencing,” the e-mail adds. “One-size-fits-all policies are counter-productive, inadequate and replace judges’ assessments with rigid formulations. Punishment for its own sake is never justified.”
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Posted by: Chestertonian -
Apr. 03, 2013 11:34 PM ET USA
Agree with MN Mary. Also, far more effective to lobby for easier path to commitment for those found to be a danger to themselves and others, as all these massacre shooters have been known to be. It isn't the guns, nor the large magazines that are the problem, as millions of citizens own them w/o massacring their fellows. It is mental illness that is the problem, and that is being ignored, in an effort to take away our Constitutionally protected rights. Look at the underlying agenda!
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Posted by: ColmCille -
Apr. 03, 2013 10:17 PM ET USA
No, I will not, and neither should the bishops. The bishops should be teaching and defending the faith, not engaging in activism in matters of prudential judgement. In truth I am opposed to such legislation, and I can oppose it and still be a good Catholic. But even if I supported such legislation, I'd still say that activism by prelates in prudential matters only creates confusion. People take what bishops say as official Catholic teaching, which is why they should stick to just that.
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Posted by: -
Apr. 03, 2013 8:33 PM ET USA
Government banned both God and weapons from schools, making them soft targets for demon-possessed madmen. Today, law-abiding citizens were the victims of legislators demanding that we surrender to Caesar our God-given right to self-defense. Tragically, our bishops are swept up in this, marching to the siren song of the political left on the slippery slope toward tyranny. Both children and liberty remain in grave peril. Sadness and frustration are words too mild for what I feel today.
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Posted by: Minnesota Mary -
Apr. 03, 2013 6:13 PM ET USA
Will the bishops be lobbying the senators to get the government to stop buying up over a billion and a half rounds of ammunition, enough to kill every citizen five times?
