Diverse Clergy Group delivers nearly 50,000 Petitions to Governor Quinn calling for sensible gun legislation

The Chicago Clergy Coalition, a diverse interfaith group of local pastors/faith leaders along with families victimized by gun violence, yesterday held a press conference and delivered 49,000 petitions to Governor Pat Quinn calling for sensible gun legislation.

The petition drive, which began last September, calls for Illinois lawmakers to enact into law common sense gun legislation that includes: 

(1) A criminal background check on all gun purchases, 

(2) Registering/titling all guns,

(3) Reporting to law enforcement if a gun is lost, stolen, missing, or destroyed, and 

(4) A ban on assault weapons.

The Chicago area has been devastated by the overwhelming violence caused by guns. During the recent Easter weekend, there were 25 gun shootings resulting in 2 deaths and 23 wounded. In 2012, Chicago made international headlines with 506 murder victims of whom 60 were children and some 2000 other people who were wounded by guns last year.

“Something radical needs to be done to stop the unchecked flow of guns. Our state legislature can do a much better job in terms of keeping guns and assault weapons out of the hands of folks who shouldn’t have them. Clergy from all over the city are demanding that law makers step up and pass commonsense gun legislation before it is too late.” says Pastor Ira Acree of Greater St. John Bible Church.

The Reverend Joy Rogers, Dean, Cathedral of St. James Episcopal Diocese of Chicago says, “The unified voice of people of faith, all faiths, can speak to politicians in a powerful way. These petitions are a sign that the faith communities of Chicago will heed God’s call to make a difference now.”

Pastor Marshall Hatch of the New Mt. Pilgrim MB Church says, “Sensible gun control legislation is an important part of addressing the culture of violence.”

Father Michael Pfleger of the St. Sabina Church, says, “I understand how the Second Amendment has been interpreted by the Supreme Court, fine, but we have to stop this easy access and this proliferation of guns, these loopholes, where nobody is held accountable with a gun.”

On Thursday, April 11th, many in the clergy members plan to go to Springfield, Illinois to advocate State lawmakers to do the common sense thing concerning gun legislation.