Prior to the start of National Gun Violence Awareness Month in June, Texas Baptists’ Christian Life Commission issued a statement saying it “looks forward to working with our elected legislators on common-sense legislation that curbs gun violence.”
The CLC staff released the public statement May 25, two days after Pastor Paul Kim, pastor of Forest Community Church in Dallas, addressed a virtual meeting of the BGCT Executive Board.
Kim noted a mass shooting at an outlet mall in Allen claimed the lives of three members of the Cho family, who were part of New Song Church in Carrollton.
In light of the attack, Kim said, members of his congregation and some other Asian American congregations wanted to know, “Can we as Texas Baptists make a statement about gun violence?”
‘Tragic reality of gun violence’
The statement from the CLC staff acknowledged the reality of gun violence and its effect both on Texans as a whole and on Texas Baptists in particular.
“We are soberly aware of how present and tragic the reality of gun violence is within our state and within our Texas Baptists family. From our schools to public malls and even inside the walls of our churches, the Texas Baptists’ family has been impacted by and victim to gun violence,” the CLC statement reads.
“The tragic reality of gun violence in Texas starkly contrasts the prolife culture we profess and celebrate. We deeply grieve with Texas Baptists churches that have lost family members, church members, loved ones, and treasured neighbors due to gun violence. At the same time, we steady our minds on the hope found in Christ Jesus, who keeps us in perfect peace.”
A dramatic increase both in gun-related suicides and murders “demonstrates the severity of this crisis,” the CLC statement reads.
“The CLC looks forward to working with our elected legislators on common-sense legislation that curbs gun violence and commits to praying with our Texas Baptists family toward that end,” the statement concludes.
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The CLC statement did not offer any indication about what constitutes “common-sense legislation.”
In the 88th Texas Legislature, a few days after the Allen mall shooting, the House Select Committee on Community Safety voted 8-5 to advance a bill to raise the age limit for purchasing semi-automatic weapons from 18 to 21. However, HB 2744—promoted by victims of the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde—never was considered by the full House.
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