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Bishops United Against Gun Violence has issued this statement in response to the November 20 shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs:
Once again,
beloved LBGTQ+ children of God have died at the hands of a gunman fueled by hatred.
Once again,
beloved LGBTQ+ children of God have died at the hands of a gunman already known to police.
Once again,
beloved LGBTQ+ children of God have died after a relentless campaign of vilification by politicians, pundits and television personalities.
Once again,
beloved LGBTQ+ children of God have died at the hands of a gunman who should not have been allowed to obtain a weapon because guns are too easy to get, and too easy for people in crisis to keep.
Once again,
In the face of this unspeakable evil, broken by sorrow and fired by rage, we put our faith in Jesus, whose triumph over death calls our church to act decisively against gun violence in all its forms.
Today, we call on all Episcopalians to fulfill the promises we make at baptism to strive for justice and peace by advocating for sensible gun laws in their states.
We call upon the Executive Council to invest in the ministry of Episcopalians advocating for gun violence prevention advocacy in their states by funding Resolution B006 of the 80th General Convention.
We pray for those who died at Club Q in Colorado Springs on Sunday morning. We pray for their families, for their friends, for the LGBTQ+ community, and for all who mourn. We pray for those who are injured and for those whose lives will never be the same. And we pray in thanksgiving for those who risked their lives in taking quick action to subdue the shooter, for the first responders, and for those who cared for the wounded and the dying.
O God who remembers, we hold before you all who have died from the plague of gun violence in our land. We remember those who have taken their lives with a gun, those who have died in school shootings and mass shootings, those who have died from gun violence fueled by anger, by abuse, by accident, by domestic violence, or by crime. We lift our voices in sorrow and frustration knowing that every life is infinitely valuable to you.
Receive all who have died into the arms of your mercy, bless those who mourn with the hope of eternal life, and strengthen our hearts and our arms to bring an end to this scourge. This we pray in the name of the one who overcame the power of death, your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
© 2013 – 2022 Bishops United Against Gun Violence