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Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez calls for change after Nashville school shooting
March 29, 2023 / By Bishop Héctor A. Burgos Núñez
Editor's Note: After the March 27 mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennesee, Upper New York Area Resident Bishop, Héctor A. Burgos Núñez, sent the strong message below to United Methodists of Upper New York on March 29, urging them to take action.
Dear siblings in Christ,
My heart aches as senseless violence once again claimed the lives of innocent individuals, three of whom were only nine years old, in a mass shooting on Monday, March 27, in Nashville, Tennessee. Please join me in praying for the victims and families at The Covenant School.
Let’s also pray for our United Methodist siblings in Nashville and surrounding communities as they seek to be the healing presence of Christ during this horrific time. I support Bishop William McAlilly of the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference of the United Methodist Church, who said, “I continue to join my voice with others in the Church as we together seek to see a new day in our country where pain and sorrow and death will no longer be visited on innocent children.”
Watching and listening to the news and trying to make sense of events like this, I wonder how we can work to end gun violence. Together, we must lead and be engaged in serious conversations and concrete actions that seek to end all acts of violence. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
As United Methodists, we are called to address gun violence in our communities through prayer, engaging in courageous conversations, supporting those affected by gun violence, and partnering with law enforcement to help prevent gun violence. We must also advocate, individually and collectively, for laws that prevent or reduce gun violence, including, but not limited to:
- Universal background checks on all gun purchases.
- Ensuring all guns are sold through licensed gun retailers.
- Prohibiting gun purchases for both those under a restraining order (due to the threat of violence) and those with serious mental illness (who pose a danger to themselves and their communities).
- Ensuring greater access to services for those with mental illness.
- Establishing a minimum age of 21 years for a gun purchase or possession.
- Banning large-capacity ammunition magazines and weapons.
- Promoting new technologies to aid law-enforcement agencies in tracing crime guns and promote public safety.
You can find resources to learn more and engage your congregation in gun violence prevention conversations and advocacy here.
Jesus Christ is our hope and our source and path to peace. I encourage United Methodists of Upper New York to live and share Christ’s hope daily and to be agents of God’s peace (shalom) for our neighbors in all places.
Paz,
Héctor