Our continued call to end gun violence

As women committed to nonviolence and to building a world of unity and reconciliation, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet call for an end to gun violence in the United States of America. Every day, more than 110 people in the United States are shot and killed, and 200 are shot and injured. Violence is leaving in its wake too many hearts and spirits broken by indescribable suffering. Families are torn by violence in the home, schools and streets. Gun violence is a public health and moral crisis that is destroying the lives, dignity and hopes of millions of people in our country.

Gun violence prevention is a complicated issue, and we are committed to a comprehensive approach that addresses all forms of homicide, suicide and unintentional shootings. While we seek to address root causes that ultimately lead to violence, we urgently need to address access to guns. America has the weakest gun laws and the most guns—393 million—of any comparable nation. First and foremost, like 93% of Americans, we call upon Congress to close loopholes and require a background check on every gun sale. We support the restriction of access to assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. We call upon Congress and state and local officials to enact extreme risk laws, also called red flag laws, which would allow loved ones or law enforcement to intervene by petitioning a court for an order to temporarily prevent someone in crisis from accessing guns.

We turn to the God of mercy and peace, the God who wipes away every tear, to give us the strength to be instruments and forces of change, to be messengers of unity and reconciliation.

Take action with us

Our hearts are broken by the ongoing gun violence in the United States. As we pray for peace, we also seek ways to take action and respond boldly.

We encourage you to take an action recommended by Everytown for Gun Safety and contact your U.S. Senators to urge them to confirm the nominee for the director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. By confirming him for this role, our lawmakers can help make sure the ATF works to keep our communities safe.