Letter to media editors on gun violence

Manasquan Meeting

To the Editor:

More than 30,000 people die as a result of firearms each year in the United States. This epidemic of violence continues to claim innocent victims and spread sorrow and fear. The nation seems paralyzed about how to address this problem, and the debate over a solution grows increasingly bitter and divisive.

Fearing violence, millions of Americans respond by buying and carrying weapons, even stockpiling the very assault weapons that have enabled disturbed individuals to commit mass shootings. Millions of others call for gun control. The two “sides” engage in hostile name-calling, disregarding their shared values of community safety, liberty and common sense. If we don’t sit down and talk with each other, nothing will change.

As Quakers, we revere life and believe that there is that of God in every human being. We cannot regard other people simply as enemies whose lives we would destroy at the squeeze of a trigger. This is a core belief of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and all religions that profess faith in a God of love. We call on people of faith to bear witness to this testimony and speak out against the false sense of security provided by a loaded weapon.

The gun control debate involves well-meaning people who want safe, secure lives for themselves and their families. Let us dialogue with compassion on this issue and tune out the cynical voices that seek to divide us for political or financial gain. And we urge our elected officials to adopt common-sense gun control measures that balance public safety interests with individual rights.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Novek,

Clerk of Peace and Social Concerns Committee

Manasquan Quaker Meeting

2257 Meetinghouse Rd.

P.O. Box 522

Manasquan, NJ 08736