Open Letter from African-American Clergy to Congress on Gun Violence Prevention

As African-American faith leaders, we are guided by a text which reveals that, since the beginning of human civilization, each generation has been given the opportunity and obligation to make their world a better place. As we approach the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington, we are reminded of one generation’s courage to stand up to racial injustice. Masses of people will gather in Washington, DC, and in cities and towns across the country, to commemorate the march and Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s resounding call to the conscience of our nation. Together, we will honor the awe-inspiring demonstration of over 250,000 men, women and children who gathered on August 28 in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial, and the concerted efforts of everyday citizens compelled by their belief in equality and dignity of all human life. On this national anniversary, we must not only herald the progress we have made as a country, but we must take stock of the detrimental decisions and policies of indifference that turn a blind eye to the alarming magnitude of lives cut short too soon. Each generation has an opportunity and an obligation. Our past and future generations command that we sound the clarion call to end gun violence in our communities.

By current estimates, there are over 270 million guns in circulation in the United States. Each week, our calling and careers as clergy force us to interact with people whose lives have been torn apart by gun violence. We have eulogized victims of gun violence. We have provided comfort to families and counseled countless parents who have lost children senselessly to gun violence. Did you know that African- American children and teens are more than twice as likely to be killed by a gun than by a car accident? Indeed, according to the Children’s Defense Fund, between 1963 and 2010, 59,265 African-American children and teens were killed by guns— more than 17 times the recorded lynchings of African-American people of all ages in the 86 years from 1882 to 1968. Past and future generations demand that we take seriously the opportunity and obligation to achieve common sense gun reform.

Last April, 46 members of the United States Senate failed to support the bi-partisan Manchin- Toomey amendment which would require background checks on gun purchases at gun shows and on the internet. When our elected leaders failed to pass that measure, they failed their obligation to humanity. By not passing common sense gun reform, our elected leaders left our communities vulnerable to the large gun purchasing loopholes that put thousands of lives at risk. An estimated 40 percent of gun transfers take place without going through a licensed dealer, including purchases over the Internet and at gun shows. In 2012 alone, 6.6 million guns were sold without a background check for the buyer. As a result, persons who are mentally ill, those with criminal records, and even domestic abusers are able to purchase guns without a background check. Past and future generations require that we act on the opportunity and obligation to achieve common sense gun reform.

Our time requires leaders who will demand background checks for the private sales of guns, including sales at gun shows and on the internet. Background checks work. Since the 1994 implementation of the Brady Law, which instituted federal background checks for gun sales by licensed dealers, 2.1 million firearm purchase applications have been denied. State universal background checks significantly reduce the number of guns that reach the illegal market and get into the hands of dangerous individuals. Background checks are our opportunity to reverse the trend of gun injuries and fatalities in our communities. It is our obligation to stem the tide of gun violence through sensible gun reform.

As faith leaders, we write this open letter to, in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “dramatize a shameful condition”—the injustice of rampant gun violence in our communities and the staggering availability of guns to dangerous individuals. We call on our legislators to pursue background checks for the purchases of guns at gun shows and on the Internet. In honor of our past and future generations, we call on Congress to leverage the opportunity before them and meet their obligation to make this nation a better place by securing common sense gun reform.

Rev. Dr. Anthony Bennett, Senior Pastor, Mt. Aery Baptist Church (Bridgeport, CT)

Rev. Dr. Emory Berry, Fourth Baptist Church (Richmond, VA)

Rev. Brad Braxton, Ph.D., Senior Pastor, The Open Church (Baltimore, MD)

Rev. Dr. Amos Brown, Senior Pastor, Third Baptist Church (San Francisco, CA)

Rev. Dr. Corey Brown, Providence Baptist Church (Newport News, VA)

Rev. Dr. Grainger Browning, Senior Pastor, Ebenezer AME Church (Fort Washington, MD)

Rev. David Bullock, Greater St. Matthew Baptist Church (Detroit, MI)

Rev. Dr. Anthony Chandler, Senior Pastor, Cedar Street Baptist Church of God (Richmond, VA)

Rev. Dr. Delman Coates, Senior Pastor, Mt. Ennon Baptist Church, President, Black Church Center for Justice & Equality (Clinton, MD)

Rev. Dr. Marcus Cosby, Senior Pastor, Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church (Houston, TX) Rev. Kevin E. Donalson Sr., Zion Baptist Church (Columbia, SC)

Rev. Eugene Downing, New Hope Baptist Church (Denver, CO)

Rev. Kelon Duke, Senior Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church (Glenwood, IL)

Rev. John Faison, Sr. Watson Grove Baptist Church (Nashville, TN)

Rev. Sterling Freeman, First Missionary Baptist Church (Smithfield, NC)

Rev. Dr. Eugene Gibson, Senior Pastor, Olivet Fellowship (Memphis, TN)

Rev. Dr. Charles Goodman, Senior Pastor, Tabernacle Baptist Church (Augusta, GA)

Rev. Dr. Darrell Griffin, Senior Pastor, Oakdale Covenant Church (Chicago, IL)

Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale, Senior Pastor, Ray of Hope Christian Church (Decatur, GA)

Dr. Charley Hames, Jr. - Beebe Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (Oakland, CA)

Rev. Dr. David Hampton, Light of the World Christian Church (Indianapolis, IN)

Rev. Dr. Lora F. Hargrove, Assistant Pastor, Mt. Calvary Baptist Church (Rockville, MD)

Rev. Dr. Frederick Haynes, Senior Pastor, Friendship-West Baptist Church (Dallas, TX)

Rev. Dr. Donté Hickman, Senior Pastor, Southern Baptist Church (Baltimore, MD)

Rev. Dr. Kevin Johnson, Senior Pastor, Bright Hope Baptist Church (Philadelphia, PA)

Rev. Adolphus Lacey, Ph.D., Senior Pastor, Mt. Olive Baptist Church (Peekskill, NY)

Rev. Antony Maclin, Senior Pastor, The Sanctuary at Kingdom Square (Capitol Heights, MD)

Rev. Melvin M. Maxwell, Senior Pastor, East Friendship Baptist Church (Washington, DC)

Rev. Willard Maxwell, New Beech Grove Baptist Church (Newport News, VA)

Rev. Dr. Lester McCorn, Senior Pastor, Pennsylvania Avenue AME Zion Church (Baltimore, MD)

Rev. Marlon Millner, Senior Pastor, McKinley Memorial Baptist Church (Willow Grove, PA)

Rev. Dr. Anthony Moore, Senior Pastor, Carolina Missionary Baptist Church (Fort Washington, MD)

Rev. Dr. Donald Morton, Perfected Life Church (Wilmington, DE) Rev. Dr. Sheridan Nelson, Senior Pastor, Abyssinia Baptist Church (Norfolk, VA)

Rev. Tyrone Nelson, Senior Pastor, Sixth Mount Baptist Church (Richmond, VA)

Rev. Philip Pointer, Senior Pastor, St. Mark Baptist Church (Little Rock, AR)

Rev. Dr. Herbert L. Ponder, Senior Pastor, Mount Tabor Baptist Church (Richmond, VA)

Rev. Dr. Robert Scott, Senior Pastor, Central Baptist Church (St. Louis, MO)

Rev. Dr. Campbell Singleton, Union Baptist Church (Montclaire, NJ)

Rev. Dr. Timothy W. Sloan, Senior Pastor, St. Luke Baptist Church (Humble, TX)

Rev. Dr. T. DeWitt Smith, Trinity Baptist Church (Atlanta, GA)

Rev. Dr. Stacy Spencer, New Direction Christian Church (Memphis, TN)

Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Thompson, Assistant Pastor, Allen Temple Baptist Church (Oakland, CA)

Rev. Dr. Anthony Trufant, Senior Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church (Brooklyn, NY)

Rev. Dr. Alyn Waller, Senior Pastor, Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church (Philadelphia, PA)

Rev. Dr. Rodney Waller, Senior Pastor, First African Baptist Church (Richmond, VA)

Rev. Dr. Raphael G. Warnock, Senior Pastor, Ebenezer Baptist Church (Atlanta, GA)

Rev. Dr. Lisa M. Weah, New Bethlehem Baptist Church (Baltimore, MD)

Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley, Senior Pastor, Alfred Street Baptist Church (Alexandria, VA)

Rev. John White, Senior Pastor, Immanuel Temple AME Church (Miami Gardens, FL)

Rev. Dr. Christine Wiley, Co-Pastor, Covenant Baptist Church (Washington, DC)

Rev. Dr. Dennis Wiley, Co-Pastor, Covenant Baptist Church (Washington, DC)

Rev. Dr. Jesse Williams, Senior Pastor, Convent Avenue Baptist Church (Harlem, NY)

Rev. Reginald Williams, First Baptist Church of University Park (University Park, IL)

Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright, Pastor Emeritus, Trinity UCC (Chicago, IL)

Rev. Dr. Todd Yeary, Senior Pastor, Douglas Memorial Community Church (Baltimore, MD)