(By Peter Smith, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). The Pittsburgh Presbytery is urging state legislators to ban assault rifles used in recent high-profile shootings.
While Pennsylvania legislators have shown more willingness to expand than contract gun rights in recent sessions, the presbytery is nevertheless arguing that the U.S. Supreme Court allows for local regulations of arms sales and manufacturing. It says there are reduced “death rates due to gun violence in states which have rigorous gun safety provisions.”
The open letter to Pennsylvania legislators and congregations of the Pittsburgh Presbytery follows the passage of the statement at the Dec. 8 meeting of the presbytery. It represents 140 congregations and about 30,000 members of Allegheny County churches in the Presbyterian Church (USA)
The letter cites the use of specific assault rifles in two recent massacres earlier in 2016 — the killings of five adults and an unborn child in Wilkinsburg in March and the killings of 49 at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla.
“We … call on our commonwealth to ban this type of weapon from the state, city and county except for its use by governmental authorities,” the resolution states. It also calls for banning armor-piercing handgun ammunition and .50-caliber sniper rifles.
It urges “social justice and opportunity for oppressed populations and those aggrieved citizens tempted by violence.”
It recommends that Presbyterians “consider destroying their assault weapons” and that the church consider divesting financial support for those manufacturing them.
Read the article on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette site.
Read the resolution, approved at Pittsburgh Presbytery’s Dec. 8 meeting below:
The Pittsburgh Presbytery Peacemaking Ministry Team moves the following resolution be sent to selected members of committees of the State Legislature, and others as noted.
In the spring of 2016 the Pittsburgh Presbytery addressed State Legislative leaders to develop several measures for gun safety; we now address the same leaders to ban the semiautomatic assault weapons, armor piercing handgun ammunition, and .50 caliber sniper rifles as requested by the 219th general Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. There is no objection to sporting or hunting guns in this resolution.
Our actions follow the recommendations of the 219th General Assembly entitled Gun Violence, Gospel Values which concurs with the actions of The United Methodist Church, The United Church of Christ, The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church and the National Council of Churches in promoting public safety by reducing gun violence. Controlling and regulating guns reduces death rates due to gun violence in states which have rigorous gun safety provisions.
The Gospel values of peace, life, and community responsibility for order all lead to the protection of the image of God in human life while recognizing we also sin and in fits of rage or mental weakness are capable of murdering human life. We understand the commandment not to murder implies social responsibility for the community to protect life from murderous acts by establishing social order and striving for a more peaceable society while reducing the threats of violence.
Our region and nation have recently suffered from the use of repeating rifles sometimes called assault weapons and the ban on assault weapons which was U.S. law nationally for ten years has expired:
The importation of the infamous AK 47 of Russian manufacture has been eliminated by sanctions imposed on Russia for the invasion of Ukraine. We welcome this ban, and it has forced the company manufacturing them to turn to the production of other products.
The U.S. Supreme Court recognizes the right of local governments to regulate arms sales and manufacture. We concur with the second amendment’s call for a well‐regulated militia and the proper limitations of arms.
The AR‐15 is suspected in the recent massacre in Wilkinsburg. The Sig Sauer MCX was used in Orlando. We therefore call on our Commonwealth to ban this type of weapon from the state, city and the county except for its use by governmental authorities. The weapons that need to be banned are listed in legislation before the State Legislature submitted to the Judiciary Committee on June 29, 2016. The list is available from your state legislator.
We urge social justice and opportunity for oppressed populations and those aggrieved citizens tempted by violence. We strongly affirm the Apostle Paul’s commendation of respect for the state and urge his ethic of love lead to justice for the oppressed.
We urge all church property to be gun free and we oppose the manufacture and sale of military style weapons to the American public. We recommend the investigation and divestment of all possible church financial support for the gun manufactures of assault weapons except for governmental institutions. We recommend all Presbyterians consider destroying their assault weapons.
This resolution and recommended action is a continuation and deepening of the Presbytery’s previous action recommending gun safety measures to certain state legislators and the General Assembly’s policy of 2010 urging action for gun safety.
Resolution approved by the Peacemaking Ministry Team of Pittsburgh Presbytery: Oct. 19 at the Eastminster Presbyterian Church.
To be sent in attached letter to: Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, Sen. Jay Costa, Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, Rep. Ron Marsico, Rep. Brandon Neuman, Rep. Joseph Petrarca, Sen. Guy Reschentaler, Rep. Rick Saccone, Speaker Mike Turzai, and Sen. Randy Vulakovich, Governor Tom Wolfe, The Pittsburgh Courier, The Pittsburgh City Paper, Pittsburgh‐Post Gazette, Pittsburgh Tribune Review, and Pittsburgh P‐news email.
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Two points: It is a people problem. Chicago has the strictest gun control in the nation. Up until a year or so ago no person could possess a gun EVEN in their home. Yet Christmas weekend 11 people were killed, 40 hospitalized, and nearly 60 more injures in gun violence in that city. Similar statements, though not quite as dramatic, can be made about other places, notably New Orleans, Washington DC and Detroit.
Second, “Assault Rifle” is a term made up by gun control groups and fostered by the mainstream media to encompass weapons they want banned. It is a military term for “automatic fire” weapons used in the military. Except in very special licensing occurrences it is against US Law to possess an “automatic” weapon. The weapons referenced are “semi-automatic”–one shot per trigger pull trigger, not multiple shots. Gun manufacturers called the weapons that appear like military rifle (but are semi-automatic like hunting rifles) “Sporting Rifles” which the resolution says it has no objection to.
Until we gain respect for human life by all the problem of violence, weather by hand or weapon, will not cease among humans.
Amazing, The PCUSA losing members right and left, and this is what they focus on…….. just incredible.
“We recommend all Presbyterians consider destroying their assault weapons. ”
When there has been a mass shooting or act of terror, I can’t remember the last time the new reporter said, “Oh, dang, it’s one of those Presbyterians again.”
Blah blah blah. They should try focusing on the gospel and the Bible. They seem to be addicted to this extraneous stuff. It’s surreal, watching this kind of thing, given their accelerating decline.
PC-USA TE for 35 years. A recreational hunter and gun owner well before that. As are my sons and soon to be grandson. Grew up in Washington and Allegheny counties, started out in the Presbytery. Own some of the weapons listed in their objectionables. Let’s be clear. This is nothing more than simple grandstanding and headline seeking for its sake alone. The structural as well systemic decline into collapse of Pittsburgh Presbytery, once the largest in the nation, has been well documented and reported upon. And again this is another example of cultural liberals doing things and passing resolutions to make them feel good as cultural liberals. A once great Presbytery reduced to just another noisy and whinny NGO. In a multitude of like minded NGOs. As far as disposing any of my legally obtained and fully licensed property. Let me think about that, ahh no.
Concerning “gun violence”……When was the last time you walked down the street and witnessed a gun taking upon itself the act of shooting people?
I fail to see the utility of Presbyterians destroying semi-automatic weapons which they legally own, when there have been multiple instances of attacks by:
a) seriously mentally ill persons and
b) terrorists (be they radical Islamic, or other, in terms of motivation) murdering Christians in their churches, or where likely unable to defend themselves, or others, in the recent past.
Our Lord was explicit. There will wars and rumors of wars, until he comes again.
Currently, there is an ongoing genocide of Christians and Jews in the Arab world and Africa where ever radical jihadist groups have the power to do so, with the explicit agenda of making said genocide world wide as soon as possible. It should be noted that murder of all Christian males not willing to abandon Christianity and embrace the most radical form of Islam upon demand, and enslavement and systematic sexual abuse of all Christian women and girls are fundamental elements of the so called jihadis’ strategy of terrorism and (as possible) genocide.
Enabling such villainy… by giving up effective means of defense of self and others, which have been legal since the 19th century… is extraordinarily ill advised. We are neither Quakers nor Amish, and have gone about our peaceful business, armed as we individually deemed necessary and appropriate, since the Reformation.
As to the notion that banning firearms makes a community more peaceful and crime free… if you believe that, demonstrate your commitment to disarming the law abiding citizenry by relocating to an inner city neighborhood in a major city which does so in its municipal criminal code (and provides armed security for the politicians who espouse it). Bring the kids.
Not going to? Why not?
As for myself, I stand with Christians who are neither pacificists, nor so confused about the nature of weapons, and the fallen nature of all mankind – as to believe that making owning a semiautomatic firearm a criminal act will result in disarming criminals who currently carry and use automatic firearms, explosives and incendiaries because they made violent and lethal crime easier for them, and law enforcement more dangerous and difficult for the police.
There is no practical difference between a “gun free zone” and the scene of a mass murder, except the presence of an armed person with evil intent.
Review the events at the Navy and Marine Reserve Training Center in Tennessee; and the testimony of the woman who saw her parents murdered before her eyes in Luby’s Cafeteria, while her legally owned firearm was locked in her vehicle.
I do not believe we are called to be helpless victims of diabolically inspired persons in our homes and communities.
What to do?
Defend the right and dread naught; not even being other than politically correct. Start with opposing this foolish and counter productive effort to disarm the citizenry, step by nonsensical step.
Well said, Peter Gregory! I am a gun owner myself and practically every week you can find me on the skeet range blasting away at those clays, which the doctor says is extremely good exercise to maintain your hand/eye coordination as you get older! Also for home protection! I just don’t think the Lord requires us to disarm ourselves to become meek and mild as these liberals believe!!
Where did Peter get the sword with which he used to cut off the ear of the Chief Priest’s servant? As it turns out Christ and the disciples carried swords for protection-not offense. We know the rest of the story, but the lesson is that as Christians, we do not need to be meek and mild when self defense is warranted!!
One can’t easily obtain true assault weapons that fire multiple rounds per trigger pull. But in fact, the early citizens had the same personal arms as the militias and army did. The Supreme Court has been wrong on important things – slavery and abortion come to mind. The Pennsylvania Constitution states
“The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.”
How much clearer could it be? Does the PCUSA want the officers of the state to violate the law by questioning one’s need for 10 bullets instead of 8?