{"id":5261,"date":"2022-05-31T14:36:06","date_gmt":"2022-05-31T19:36:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/twkumc.org\/?p=5261"},"modified":"2022-05-31T14:36:06","modified_gmt":"2022-05-31T19:36:06","slug":"gun-violence-awareness-month-a-call-to-action-from-twk-church-society","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/twkumc.org\/es\/news\/gun-violence-awareness-month-a-call-to-action-from-twk-church-society\/","title":{"rendered":"TWK Iglesia y Sociedad | Llamamiento a la acci\u00f3n en el Mes de Concienciaci\u00f3n sobre la Violencia Armada"},"content":{"rendered":"

On May 14<\/span>th<\/span>, a white teenage gunman opened fire at a supermarket in Buffalo killing 10 Black people. On May 15<\/span>th<\/span>, a 68-year-old man killed one person and critically wounded four others inside a Southern California church. On May 18<\/span>th<\/span>, a shooting occurred on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University as people left the Riverdale High School graduation ceremonies leaving one person dead and another in critical condition. On May 22<\/span>nd<\/span>, a New York subway passenger on the way to brunch was fatally shot in an unprovoked attack. And on May 24<\/span>th<\/span>, at least 19 children and two teachers were murdered at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gun violence is a daily occurrence. Days after a mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, the American Medical Association officially adopted a policy calling gun violence a \u201chealth crisis\u201d and requiring a comprehensive public health response and solution. On an average day in the US, more than 35 people are murdered with a gun. Including suicides and accidental shootings, guns killed about 45,000 Americans last year. This number does not include the number injured. On average, over 100,000 people are shot in one year in the United States in murders, assaults, suicides and suicide attempts, unintentional shootings, or by police intervention.<\/span> This epidemic encompasses homicides and suicides, rural and urban, adults and children. We are facing a crisis, and the church cannot stay silent about it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, the 2016 General Conference of The United Methodist Church passed a resolution called, \u201cOur Call to End Gun Violence.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It<\/span>
\n<\/span>states, \u201cAs followers of Jesus, called to live into the reality of God\u2019s dream of shalom as described by Micah [Micah 4:1-4], we must address the epidemic of gun violence so, \u201cthat he may teach us his ways that we may walk in God\u2019s path.\u201d The Church recognizes gun violence as a serious social issue and therefore declares, \u201cwe call upon United Methodists to address gun violence in their local context.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The prophet Micah casts a hopeful vision of the future where nations will \u201cbeat their swords into iron plows, and their spears into pruning hooks.\u201d (Micah 4:3) Jesus says, \u201cBlessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.\u201d (Matthew 5:9)<\/span><\/p>\n

Three things your church can do:<\/span><\/p>\n

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