LCNN sends letter to US Senate leaders asking to address gun controls and violence
June 1, 2022
The Honorable Charles E. Schumer Majority Leader
United States Senate
Room S-221, The Capitol Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Mitch McConnell Minority Leader
United States Senate
Room S-230, The Capitol Washington, DC 20510
Dear Majority Leader Schumer and Minority Leader McConnell:
As our country mourns in the wake of the most recent horrific mass shooting this past week in Uvalde, Texas at Robb Elementary school, which claimed 22 lives, including 19 children and 2 teachers, we Christian pastors and leaders representing Latino Evangelical, Pentecostal, and historic Protestants from across our country and allies, urge you to take bold action to protect the life of our children.
We are in deep and constant prayer for all those affected by this tragedy and recognize that prayer is simply not enough. As followers of Jesus, we know that faith without action is dead. We must "love not in word or speech, but in truth and action" (1 John 3:18).
Every year over 30,000 Americans die in gun related incidents. Firearms are a leading cause of death for children in the United States. On the 144th day of 2022 the country had already experienced 213 mass shootings, including 27 in schools. It does not have to be this way. The United States does not have to be the only nation where this senseless slaughter so regularly happens. The impediment to enacting sensible and lifesaving gun safety legislation at the federal and state levels is not the Second Amendment but political will.
Accordingly, we urge you to act now to ban assault weapons, mandate universal background checks and pass sensible “red flag” laws to keep guns out of the hands of those with violent histories, including those who have perpetrated domestic violence. We also urge you to appropriate funds for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to research gun violence and ask you to fund community intervention strategies that have proven effective in preventing gun violence.
Thousands of our children have died while Congress refuses to enact sensible gun laws supported by the majority of Americans. The lives and future of our children is in yours and our hands. As faith leaders, mother, fathers, tías, tíos, abuelas and abuelos, we implore you in the name of Jesus to enact legislation to protect the lives of our children and our communities.
Sincerely,
Rev. Carlos Malave, President Latino Christian National Network
Rev. Dr. Alexia Salvatierra, Academic Dean Centro Latino, Fuller Theological Seminary
Rev. Adam Russell Taylor, President Sojourners
Lisa Trevino Cummins, President Urban Strategies
Rev. Eddy Alemán, General Secretary Reformed Church in America
Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Conde-Frazier, Executive Director Association for Hispanic Theological Education
The Rev. Canon Dr. Anthony Guillén, Director of Ethnic Ministries & Missioner for Latino/Hispanic Ministries
The Episcopal Church
Rev. Ruben N. Ortiz, Latino Field Ministries Coordinator Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
Jesse Rincones, Executive Director Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas
Rev. Efrain Pineda, President & Senior Pastor Congreso RED & Vida Church
Rev. Lori Tapia, National Pastor for Hispanic Ministries Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the U.S. and Canada
Rev. Doug Avilesbernal, Executive Minister, Bishop American Baptist Churches
Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Haggray, Executive Director, American Baptist Home Mission Societies
Rev. Roberto Ochoa, Minister for Ethnic Inclusion & Congregational Support for Rural & Small Churches
United Church of Christ
Dr. Norlan Hernández, Director
Jesse Miranda Center at Vanguard University
Agustin Quiles, President Mission Talk
Bishop José García
Church of God of Prophecy
Rev. Dr. Sergio Navarrete, Superintendent of Southern Pacific District Assemblies of God
Rev. Karen Figueroa, Academic Dean
Centro Hispano de Estudios Teológicos, Evangelical Covenant Church
Elder Marco A. Grimaldo, Strategist Bread for the World
Karen Gonzalez, Author of the The God Who Sees Sandra Ovalle, Director of Campaigns and Mobilizing
Sojourners
Rev. Carlos Rincon, Senior Pastor
Centro de Vida Victoriosa, Assemblies of God
Rev. John H Caicedo, Senior Pastor
Iglesia Cristiana el Sembrador, Christian Reformed Church of North America
Rev. Inés Velásquez-McBryde, Lead Pastor The Church We Hope For
Rev. Melvin Valiente, Senior Pastor First Baptist Church of Maywood
Rev. Jaime Lazaro, Pastor
Iglesia Presbiteriana de Estados Unidos, Presbyterian Church USA
Rev. Michael A. Mata, Community Engagement Pastor First Church of the Nazarene
David Jaimes, Pastor
Santa Ana United Methodist Church
Rev. Carmen Lopez, Lead Pastor
Iglesia Cristiana del Este de Whittier (Discípulos de Cristo)
Rev. Gabriel Lopez, Co-Pastor
Iglesia Cristiana del Este de Whittier (Discípulos de Cristo)
Rev. Siobhan Lopez, Co-Pastor
East Whittier Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Dr. Patrick B. Reyes, Senior Director of Learning Design Forum for Theological Exploration
Rev. Dr. Johnny Ramirez-Johnson, Professor of Anthropology Fuller Theological Seminary
Yvette Hernandez, Pastor
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Rev. Guesnerth Josue Perea, Associate Pastor Metro Hope Church
Angélica Acosta Garnett, Elder Warehouse 242, EPC
Tyler Garnett, CEO Garnett Media