To fight gun violence, come together as a community

The Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago joins in sorrow with the victims of last weekend’s shootings in Chicago. We are outraged that 71 people were shot and that 12 have died, including two who were just 17. They were a part of us, and we are diminished by their loss.

Reducing gun violence is a moral imperative for promoting justice in our community. In every religious tradition, human life is sacred. People have a right to personal safety, and that right is violated when they experience or are at risk of gun violence.

We reject the proposition that the only solution to gun violence is to arm ourselves further with more and more weapons. We know that the immediate answer rests in policies that reduce access to weapons and keep guns out of the hands of anyone who poses a significant risk of personal injury to themselves or others. We commend those community groups and elected officials who are working for these changes, and we support those in law enforcement who are interrupting illegal gun trafficking and arresting those who stoke the flames of gun violence.

The communities of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago continue to work and provide services throughout Chicago to sustain families, support children, and protect the least among us. We cannot do it alone. We cannot expect long-term solutions without change and hope. We need safe spaces for children to learn and play, for people to seek and find meaningful work, and for neighbors to gather and worship without fear. We call on the religious leaders of every community to join us in seeking solutions. We must all come together to build a better community. Nisan Chavkin, Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago