Commentary: As progressive O.C. Christians, we urge Congress to take action on gun violence

We write as people of faith who are either attendees at, or members of, Irvine United Congregational Church. Our progressive Christian faith prompts us to express both outrage and heartbreak over the latest mass shooting in Las Vegas in which a gunman high in a hotel room shot down into a crowd of innocent concertgoers, killing 58 and injuring hundreds more.

We simply cannot accept the toll of gun violence as the norm in our nation. This is a moral imperative. Of course, we can pray, but prayer is not enough. People of faith cannot be silent as gun violence takes the lives of children, women and men, at a rate exceeding the death toll of all wars ever fought by the United States.

Instead, we call upon our elected leaders to take action. We understand that no one piece of legislation can solve this problem. But we know that gun violence is preventable and can be reduced. Unfortunately, many of our elected representatives’ campaigns are funded by the National Rifle Assn., which opposes most gun safety measures.

We call on our members of Congress to do what is morally right and stand up to the gun lobby by passing meaningful laws. Last week, in Las Vegas, the shooter owned several semi-automatic weapons and used “bump stocks” to make these de facto machine guns: Congress should immediately make sale and possession of these devices illegal.

They should also reject the pending Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act, which would make it easier to legally obtain gun silencers and armor-piercing ammunition. It would also make sense to strengthen background checks on gun purchases.

No one measure will immediately end the violence but laws promoting gun safety would give law enforcement an opportunity to curb it. Our culture has a heavy investment in death; isn’t it time we invested in life and hope? This is our faith call.

This piece is signed by DAVID A. SMITH and 48 members of the Irvine United Congregational Church Irvine.