Thread: Clergy Targets GOP Senator Grassley for Second Amendment Support

Clergy Targets GOP Senator Grassley for Second Amendment Support

By New Haven Register March 14, 2013 6:53 am

(File Photo)

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill Tuesday requiring federal background checks in nearly all gun purchases, but not before Newtown, Conn., clergy -- and thousands of others -- let the leading Republican on the panel know of their support.A two-page advertisement ran Monday in the Des Moines Register, the largest paper in the home state of U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa. It reproduced a letter signed by 12 Jewish, Christian and Islamic leaders from Newtown, accompanied by more than 4,000 names added though grass-roots organizing websites. The ad also ran in Politico on Tuesday.

The ad did not persuade Grassley, who joined the other Judiciary Committee Republicans opposing the bill in a party-line 10-8 vote.

Addressed to the Iowa Republican, the letter said in part, "As the clergy leaders of Newtown, joined by clergy colleagues from across the nation, we have witnessed the scourge of gun violence in our neighborhoods, and we call on Congress to pass comprehensive gun violence prevention legislation that will help stop the slaughter."

The letter continued, "To see the rising incidence of gun violence from Chicago to Newtown, Camden to Aurora, Detroit to Tucson -- and how that violence particularly targets the young and the poor, especially in America's urban communities -- and yet to refuse to take the steps we know would reduce harm, is a violation of religious values so severe that we are compelled to speak out."

"We want the lawmakers to realize that the clergy throughout the United States" support gun-control measures, said Rabbi Shaul Praver of Congregation Adath Israel. "For the last 30 years this has been creeping up." Guns have been marketed like cigarettes or sweets to children, Praver said.

Praver led the effort with the Rev. Matthew Crebbin, pastor of the Newtown Congregational Church. They and the other Newtown clergy "wanted to make our voice heard, especially as local clergy here in Newtown who had been affected," along with other residents.

Several of the clergy had presided over funerals of the victims of the Dec. 14 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, in which 20 children and six school staff were killed by a gunman using a Bushmaster AR-15 assault-style weapon.

Newtown clergy also met with members of Congress in Washington in February.

The letter in the ad ends with a message of hope: "The slaughter of innocence in Newtown awakened our nation to the tragedy of gun violence throughout our land, and we shall neither slumber nor sleep. Rather, by tireless commitment, loving hearts and the sustaining promise of our many faiths, we believe that Newtown shall be remembered as the bridge to a new and kinder world."

Names can be added online through PICO National Network - Unlocking the Power of Peopleâ„¢, The Groundswell Movement | The Groundswell Movement Multifaith Initiative for Social Justice Leading up to September 11th and Sojourners (Sojourners: Celebrating 40 Years of Faith in Action for Social Justice).

Tuesday's Judiciary Committee vote gave President Barack Obama an early victory on curbing gun violence in a fight that still faces difficult odds.

As expected, the panel delayed voting on a plan by U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., to ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. The committee was expected to approve that measure Thursday.

The background check measure would expand the requirement to firearms sales between private individuals, such as those that occur at gun shows. Currently, the checks are required only for sales by federally licensed firearms dealers.

Grassley said he believes the measure will ultimately lead to a federal registry of gun owners, which is illegal. He also said that requiring additional law-abiding citizens to face background checks would have limited impact on public safety.

"Mass shootings would continue to occur despite universal background checks," Grassley said. "Criminals will continue to steal guns."

"This isn't going to be a perfect bill. But it will sure reduce crimes," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., the bill's sponsor.

The committee also approved a measure by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., providing $40 million a year for school safety programs. The vote was 14-4, with four Republicans joining Democrats in supporting the bill.
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