Heeding God’s Call Statement on Sunday’s Gun Massacre at First Baptist Church, Sutherland Springs, Texas

November 7, 2017

The Reverend Woody Dalton, Board Chair
Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence ™

Another semiautomatic rifle massacre of innocents, this time in a sacred space, a church.  If ever grief, prayer and, more importantly, action were needed, it is NOW, when virtually anyone in our country can legally or illegally obtain guns made to kill as many people as possible as quickly as possible.

Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence mourns yesterday’s slaughter, but we sadly note that mourning, grief and prayer will not bring back the murdered.  Nor will they stop the killing, as long as we as a nation tolerate allowing access to mass killing weapons.  We call, instead, for legislative action on both state and federal levels to prohibit the sale and possession of semiautomatic rifles and high capacity ammunition magazines.

To those who say it’s not the time to discuss gun violence prevention:  We say, ‘IT’S THE RIGHT TIME!

To those preoccupied with the motives or mental health of the shooter:  We say, “IT’S ABOUT THE GUN!” for without the overwhelming firepower of semiautomatic rifles, such massacres could not occur.

And, to those persons and communities of faith ready to act to protect all children of God from gun violence:  We say, “JOIN US TO HEED GOD’S CALL TO END GUN VIOLENCE!”

Contact: Bryan Miller, Executive Director
bryanheeding@gmail.com   (856) 371-3038


Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence (Heeding) is a faith-based and grassroots organization devoted solely to saving lives from the uniquely American scourge of gun violence.  Heeding is headquartered in Philadelphia, with volunteer chapters in the Mid-Atlantic.  Heeding’s activities include using faithful public pressure to persuade gun retailers to eschew sales to those who would resell guns on the street, public interfaith Murder Site Witnesses in effected neighborhoods, installations of Memorials to the Lost ™, portable tee-shirt memorials honoring local victims of gun violence and more.

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