Father Pfleger: Escalating violence is “an undeclared war”

Rev. Hatch: ‘We’re moving to de-racialize violence’

By Chinta Strausberg

 

Dozens of religious leaders recently met at the Mid-America Club where Father Michael L. Pfleger called the escalation of violence “an undeclared war” while others made a clarion call for their peers to gather more petitions they need to reach a 100,000 mark they need in their fight to get assault weapons banned and to title guns like cars.

The Urban Peace Initiative “Passthebill” luncheon was hosted by Pastor Marcenia J. Richards. The diverse coalition of ministers is gathering petitions calling on state lawmakers to pass the Illinois Handgun Registration Act (HB 5831) which would require gun owners to register guns with the Illinois State Police every five-years and when a gun is sold.

The religious leaders say the gun registration fees would be used to enhance a database of information on people who should not own guns and to improve the technology used to conduct background checks on gun buyers.

They believe that a gun registration requirement will reduce illegal gun trafficking while preventing guns from getting into the hands of those with criminal records or who have history of serious mental illness.

Under this law, the police will use gun registration information to identify the owners of guns that are found at the scene of the crime and to improve the likelihood of finding the shooters. The coalition believes that the police will be able to remove guns from those who are legally prohibited from owning guns. The fees would be used to fund accurate background checks for gun buyers. Pastor Richards said the coalition has gathered 25,000 but their goal of 100,000.

Addressing the religious leaders, Father Pfleger said, “This violence thing that we’re all dealing with is really an undeclared war. It is an epidemic, and it is being ignored.”  He believes the reason why it is being ignored is “because the victims are primarily black and brown and the intimidation of the NRA. It’s kept people silent at best.”

“The important part of violence is the gun,” he said. “You can’t shoot somebody if you don’t have a gun to shoot them with.
 Pfleger said adults have the responsibility to teach children about the dangers of guns and to remove them. “We are a society that is in love with guns. We have elected officials and the NRA who are great in making people afraid and feeling like guns are the answer.” He urged them to always equate guns with violence.

Saying it is time for legislators “from the White House all the way down to our cities, to ban assault weapons, Pfleger said, “…we banned them in Iraq but not ban them at home. It’s just unacceptable; so we’ve got to make that happen. We also have to title the guns like cars. Nobody is trying to take nobody’s gun away who wants it. If somebody is crazy enough to want a gun, they can have it,” he said drawing laughter from the religious leaders.

“Personally, I don’t believe how as Christians we talk about Jesus and the covering, the power then go out and get a gun just in case he’s not real.”

“We have to make people accountable. We have to stop the person who is buying 200 and 300 guns at gun shows and gun shops an selling them on the street,” said Pfleger.

Referring to the campaign dubbed “Pass The Bill: Petition for Common Sense Gun Legislation,” Pfleger said there is little talk about guns anymore on all governmental levels as compared to when Mayor Richard M. Daley was in office. Pfleger said elected officials must be held accountable.

What alarms Pfleger is the “unbelievable silence. “We have broken last year’s record this weekend. One killed 21 shot this weekend and it’s not even a story; so we become acceptable. The church has to be its moral voice. The church has to gather the numbers…to get the petitions and put pressure on the governor, the mayor, every state legislator in Illinois (and ask them) where do you stand”?

Pfleger urged the religious leaders have their members sign the Common Sense gun Legislation. He said this movement “ought to start here in Illinois, here in the president’s home, in the president’s city.”

Rev. Marshall Hatch, pastor of the New Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church, who gave the invocation, said he had to go to the Christ Advocate Hospital with relatives of the 17-year-old honor student who was fatally shot yesterday. “We must be peacemakers,” said Hatch something that is need to combat the violence that is taking so many lives in the community.

Referring to the shooting tragedies that have occurred in Chicago and around the nation including the August 5, 2012 mass shooting that took place at the Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin where a lone gunman killed six people and wounded four others, Hatch said those tragedies are stark reminders of the need to pass sensible gun laws.

“Our goal was to do our best to de-racialize the whole issue of violence particularly the issue of sensible gun control legislation. All of those tragedies happened in Wisconsin and Chicago, “ said Hatch. Military assault weapons in civilian society was a common denominator which means none of us are case until all of us are safe.”

The challenge in de-racializing the issue of violence, explained Hatch is to “challenge all of us to see it as every one of our problems.” Hatch said they established a ‘Peace Weekend.’ The truth is, Hatch said, “Every weekend, it seems to be more violent than the next weekend.”

Praising Father Pfleger “for being on the point, year-after-year and often by himself even if he had to be one voice crying in the wilderness,” Hatch said, “What would it look like if all of our voices join his voice in calling for sensible gun legislation particularly registering in Illinois so that the gun owner, the gun manufacturer, the gun dealer will be responsible for the possession of what weapon.”

Hatch added, “Just as a license and title follow a car, a title should follow” a gun.

Saturday, Rev. Hatch officiated over the funeral of 17-year-old Christian Taylor who was a victim of gun violence.  His funeral was held at Hatch’s New Mount Pilgrim MBC, 4301 W. Washington Blvd. Afterwards, Hatch attended a peace tournament at the Christ The King Jesuit College Prep High School, 5088 W. Jackson Blvd.

Other speakers included Lance Orchid, National Organizing Director at the New Venture Fund, from the National Organizing Washington, D.C., Pastor Jeffrey Brown from Boston, Mass., who talked about his ten point coalition; Pastor Ira Acree, pastor of Greater St. John Bible Church and Pastor Joy Rogers, St. James Cathedral.

Chinta Strausberg is a Journalist of more than 33-years, a former political reporter and a current PCC Network talk show host. You can e-mail Strausberg at: Chintabernie@aol.com.