We are an interfaith community located in Amherst, New Hampshire with a membership that reaches far beyond the town of Amherst. As a community we wish to express our support of President Biden’s initiative on gun control. For too long the inertia towards creating a comprehensive approach to regulating weapons in this country has been a national shame. One community is still freshly mourning when a second makes the news however briefly, with their own tragedy. Can we re-imagine our country without this perpetual cycle of violence? How many more times will we hear the anguish behind words such as, “my grocery store, school, church, synagogue etc., is a major crime scene?”

Is there a way we can uphold second amendment rights while still honoring the dignity and right to life of each individual? No one outside the military need to own weapons that maximize the number of people killed. Everyone has the right to live without the ever-present fear posed by automatic weapons. We support the efforts of so many courageous people who have experienced loss through gun violence. Can we re-imagine and re-invent connection and communication with each other? We believe in a future that is not awash with guns, but one in which we work together to make our communities safe and improve the lives of all.

The time for inaction, silent tears, and apathy is past. We must act now to reclaim safety, decency and hope for our families, our communities and our nation.