The senseless killing in Southern Virginia leaves us stunned and saddened.  It is impossible to imagine what the families of the victims are feeling.  Our hearts go out to them with sympathy and compassion.  Alison Parker and Adam Ward of Moneta, VA were viciously murdered as they were reporting for their local TV station.  Alison’s father, overwhelmed with grief, rallies us to rise to the occasion and confront the violent culture that is emerging in our Nation pledging to do all in his power to stop the violence.

Mr. Parker committed himself to work for responsible gun control.  This is an issue that has become a political football.  While the majority of citizens in the United States support gun control, the more powerful among us have stifled every attempt at common sense legislation.  This kind of irresponsible behavior enables a culture of violence, revenge, and death to flourish.

It is more than outrageous that some legislators would consider compromising the 14^th Amendment concerning citizenship of children born on our soil, but uphold the absolute right to have a gun.  They do so under the banner of upholding Constitutional integrity.  We must realize this is a moral issue long before it is a political issue.

The Interfaith Peace Project joins with the multi-faith community throughout the Nation as we cry out enough is enough.  We clearly understand this particular crime might not have been prevented by responsible gun control.  Nonetheless, common sense demands we do everything possible to foster a culture of respect, life, and safety.  The right to own a gun does not trump the right to live in peace.  It certainly does not trump the right to live.  The insanity must stop.  We can no longer expose our children and ourselves to inaction based on political expectancy.

We support Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence (faithsagainstgunviolence.org) and the upcoming National  Gun Violence Sabbath Weekend (marchsabbath.org) taking place December 10-13, 2015.  We ask you to consider doing the same.

We need to pray for peace, act for justice, and transform our culture of violence.