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Judy Williams of Belfast is a member of the Work Group for Gun Legislation of The First Church in Belfast, UCC.
On the heels of yet another mass shooting — one that took the life of Kansas City radio station DJ, Lisa Lopez-Galvan, and left 22 others injured — people of faith came together in worshiping communities during the weekend of Feb. 16 to 18 for Gun Safety Awareness Sabbath. They did so not only to pray for victims of gun violence but to demand changes to laws that do little to curb that violence in our state.
Many in Maine have long believed that our laws were enough to protect us from the gun violence that plagues our nation. Robert Card II shattered that false sense of security when he arrived at Sparetime Recreation and Schemengees Bar and Grille in Lewiston on Oct. 2 . A semi-automatic Ruger SFAR rifle was found in his car, and a Smith & Wesson handgun and a Smith & Wesson M&P 15 rifle were found with his body. Maine’s yellow flag law did not stop Card from legally purchasing and owning these weapons, despite his history of mental health issues. This begs the question: How might this situation have changed had stronger gun laws been in effect?
The gaps in Maine’s current gun legislation are obvious. In Maine we have:
No law requiring private sellers who are not licensed dealers to initiate a background check when transferring a firearm;
No law imposing a waiting period prior to the purchase of a firearm;
No law banning assault style weapons or high-capacity magazines; and
No red flag law to more efficiently but legally get firearms temporarily out of the hands of people who are dangerous.
In addition, Maine is one of 27 states that allow permitless carry, having a concealed weapon in public without a permit.
According to Everytown for Gun Safety, Maine ranks 25th in the country for gun law strength, and Gifford’s Law Center gives Maine a grade of D minus on their Gun Law Scorecard.
If we are to have the kind of society where we can watch a parade, or go to school, a movie or house of worship without fearing for our lives, we must all do everything we can to effect change.
The arguments for maintaining the status quo regarding gun legislation are many: “Guns don’t kill people; people kill people.” “We just need to enforce gun laws already on the books.” And even, of late, “Assault-style weapons are needed for hunting.” But the evidence supporting the need for change to gun laws is strong.
According to the Maine Gun Safety Coalition, “Stricter gun laws passed by 40 states from 1991 to 2016 reduced gun deaths by nearly 4,300 in 2016, or about 10 percent of the nationwide total.” Gifford’s Law Center notes that “of the 15 states with the highest gun death rates, 12 received Fs for their gun laws.”
People of faith have had enough. They want much more than the thoughts and prayers that politicians typically offer after mass shootings. Just as members of faith communities did during the Civil Rights era, people today are turning to their faith communities for guidance on how to end the injustice of gun violence.
Groups like The Farmington Area Ecumenical Ministry, The National Council of Jewish Women, and Bishops United Against Gun Violence all advocate for legislation that will decrease gun deaths in the United States.
The Social Action Committee of the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ, UCC, is hosting conversations on gun safety in Bangor, Auburn and Waterville to allow participants an opportunity to consider a faithful response to gun legislation.
Many people of faith were among the hundreds who descended upon the statehouse on Jan. 3 for the Gun Safety Day of Action organized by the Maine Gun Safety Coalition, demanding that our legislators pass strong gun safety legislation now.
The First Church in Belfast, UCC, has formed a Working Group on Gun Legislation to let state legislators know that they expect action, not platitudes. The time has come to make our voices heard about the need for common sense changes to Maine’s gun laws.
