SW News: Four chairmen of various committees of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) have sent a letter to members of Congress urging them to combat the indiscriminate trafficking of weapons and enact gun control. The missive was sent on behalf of all the prelates in the wake of mass shootings that took place in Texas, Tulsa, Buffalo and Dallas.

The letter was signed by Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, Archbishop Paul S Coakley of Oklahoma, Archbishop William E Lori of Baltimore, and Bishop Thomas A Daly of Spokane. In the missive, the bishops cited the Holy Father’s appeal to put an end to the sale of weapons. Through the letter, they also appealed to all members of Congress to unite so as to stop the brutal annihilation of innocent people. The bishops said that the episcopal conference has always supported efforts to address gun violence. They also added that the USCCB still continues to support efforts by the legislators to expedite the policies in legislation.

The prelates said that limiting high-capacity magazines could reduce the number of casualties in mass shootings by as much as 38 per cent, and those injured by as much as 77 per cent. Although they reiterated the need for Congress to pass a federal law criminalizing gun trafficking, they said that alone will not suffice to address the roots of violent crime in the country.

In the letter, the bishops said that there was a need to acknowledge that “the weakening of the family... poses a threat to the mature growth of individuals, the cultivation of community values, and the moral progress of cities and countries.” They also pointed out that in most mass shootings, the perpetrators have suffered a traumatic childhood or hail from broken families. In many cases, they have suffered physical abuse or substance abuse.

The prelates conveyed that there was a need for improvements in the firearm background check process by voting in favor of the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021. It prohibits a firearm transfer between private parties until a licensed gun dealer, manufacturer, or importer conducts a successful background check. Next in the line would be the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021 (H.R. 1446). It would strengthen background check procedures done before a federal firearms licensee transfers a firearm to a person who does not have a federal firearms license.

The letter concluded by quoting Pope Francis who expressed grief over the Texas tragedy stating, “It is time to say ‘no more’ to the indiscriminate trafficking of weapons”.