USCCB SUPPORTS GUN CONTROLS
AND
CALLS FOR AN END TO THE CULTURE OF DEATH
On June 3, 2022, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops sent a letter to the U.S. Congress supporting gun control measures. Below is a quote from that letter. A link to the full text of the letter is attached. This website has often been critical of the U.S. bishops for focusing almost exclusively on abortion and not speaking out on other aspects of the church's social teaching on human life. To their credit, in this letter they apply the Catholic Church's teaching on life to gun violence in the United States. This is indeed a positive sign for the Catholic Church in the United States.
“For many years, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has supported a number of reasonable measures to address the problem of gun violence and continues to support efforts by the U.S. Congress to advance these policies in legislation. [note 6] It should not be the case that in the United States, a person needs character references to apply for a job but not to purchase military-style assault weapons. [note 7] We support a total ban on assault weapons and limitations on civilian access to high-capacity weapons and ammunition magazines. Data show that limitations on high-capacity magazines can reduce the number of people killed in mass shootings by as much at 38%, and those injured by as much as 77%. [note 8] We also support measures that control the sale and use of firearms, such as universal background checks for all gun purchases. We ask that Congress pass a federal law to criminalize gun trafficking. This is of particular importance since the United States not only suffers from domestic gun violence but is a major international exporter of weapons. [note 9] Finally, the USCCB also supports recent proposals to set a more appropriate minimum age for gun ownership, and to ban ’bump stocks.’”
USCCB Letter to Congress on Gun Violence, June 3, 2022.
On June 3, 2022, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops sent a letter to the U.S. Congress supporting gun control measures. Below is a quote from that letter. A link to the full text of the letter is attached. This website has often been critical of the U.S. bishops for focusing almost exclusively on abortion and not speaking out on other aspects of the church's social teaching on human life. To their credit, in this letter they apply the Catholic Church's teaching on life to gun violence in the United States. This is indeed a positive sign for the Catholic Church in the United States.
“For many years, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has supported a number of reasonable measures to address the problem of gun violence and continues to support efforts by the U.S. Congress to advance these policies in legislation. [note 6] It should not be the case that in the United States, a person needs character references to apply for a job but not to purchase military-style assault weapons. [note 7] We support a total ban on assault weapons and limitations on civilian access to high-capacity weapons and ammunition magazines. Data show that limitations on high-capacity magazines can reduce the number of people killed in mass shootings by as much at 38%, and those injured by as much as 77%. [note 8] We also support measures that control the sale and use of firearms, such as universal background checks for all gun purchases. We ask that Congress pass a federal law to criminalize gun trafficking. This is of particular importance since the United States not only suffers from domestic gun violence but is a major international exporter of weapons. [note 9] Finally, the USCCB also supports recent proposals to set a more appropriate minimum age for gun ownership, and to ban ’bump stocks.’”
USCCB Letter to Congress on Gun Violence, June 3, 2022.