Missouri Catholic Bishops Call For Gun Reform, Gun-Free Churches

ST. LOUIS, MO — Missouri's four Catholic bishops join a growing chorus of voices around the country calling for an end to gun violence and a reevaluation of how guns are used in society. A letter released last week, signed by Robert J. Carlson, Archbishop of St. Louis, James V. Johnston Jr., Bishop of Kansas City-St. Joseph, W. Shawn McKnight, Bishop of Jefferson City, and Edward M. Rice, Bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, called on Missouri lawmakers to keep guns out of churches.

A bill currently before the General Assembly would allow individuals to carry concealed weapons in churches and other public spaces — bars, casinos, daycares, college campuses, city council meetings, hospitals— without needing to get permission from the building's owner.

"We acknowledge that there is a right to self-defense. Many Catholics and people of good will are gun owners and law-abiding citizens would would never consider the use of lethal force unless it was necessary to preserve human life," the clergy wrote. "As we issue this statement, bills are currently being debated in the Missouri General Assembly that would further loosen gun regulations. One such bill, for example, would eliminate the need for Missourians who are carrying a concealed weapon to obtain permission from their pastor before bringing a concealed weapon to church.

"If this bill were to pass, churches wishing to remain gun free would have to post signage in their sacred spaces prohibiting guns. This is highly offensive to us and would violate our First Amendment rights to religious liberty. As the leaders of the Catholic Church in Missouri, we vigorously object to this change in Missouri law!"

The bishops also called for "sensible gun regulations in order to protect human life," including banning bump stocks — devices that can be used to turn otherwise legal semiautomatic weapons into fully-automatic machine guns — universal background checks, and limitations on high-capacity magazines, such as a 10-round limit already imposed on hunters under state law.

"We see no purpose or justification for civilians to carry large capacity magazines that permit the kind of sustained firepower that can result in multiple casualties," they wrote. "We further support improving access to and increased resources for mental health care and earlier interventions."

The letter concludes by asking fellow Catholics and people of good will to work toward ending gun violence in their local communities, including by contacting their representatives.

The bishops' letter is the latest in a long list of calls to change gun laws since the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida in Feburary. Last week, Ethical Society of St. Louis outreach director James Croft called for gun reform and an end to "gun culture" in the United States. Echoing a New York Times op-ed by former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, Croft also said he supports a repeal of the Second Amendment, though he admitted that may currently be an unrealistic proposal.

Two weeks ago, the University City Council passed a gun violence resolution urging state legislators to adopt laws to prevent gun violence and promote safer schools. The resolution closely mirrored one passed by the Clayton Board of Aldermen earlier in March, and called for limits to weapon ownership for people with mental illness, enhanced background checks, restrictions on assault weapons, minimum age requirements for firearms purchases, and better security in schools and public buildings.

And on March 14, students at Clayton High School joined thousands of students across the country in a walkout to protest gun violence and Missouri's lax gun laws.

More than 30,000 Americans are killed by guns every year and twice that number are injured, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 13,000 are murdered. The rest take their own lives or are victims of shooting accidents. Almost half are children or young adults.

Last year St. Louis cracked its 25-year murder record. Per capita, the city ranks third for homicides in the United States and first for non-fatal shootings, according to data from the FBI and Major Cities Chiefs Association.

Photo by Renee Schiavone/Patch