Please call your state legislators and ask them to oppose H.134, which would allow conceal-carry permit holders to bring handguns into church-affiliated schools.
Parents, teachers, principals and pastors oppose allowing firearms because of the danger of leaving these weapons unlocked and unguarded, or having them firing accidentally. In one instance in Texas last January, a person who brought a gun to a church was disarmed and the gun used to kill him and injure others. In other instances, “good guys” with guns accidentally shot people they were trying to help or innocent bystanders.
In an FBI study of 160 active shooter incidents from 2000 to 2013, only one was stopped by an individual with a valid firearm permit.
Gun violence is a pro-life issue which affects the United States much more than any other developed country. From 30,000 to 40,000 Americans die by firearms each year and many more are injured. We need universal background checks with no loopholes, a ban on assault weapons for civilians, and “red-flag’’ laws to keep firearms from felons, domestic abusers and the dangerously mentally ill.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, but we need to honor them with action, too.
Janet Zaccarelli lives in Mooresville.