PRESS CONFERENCE – THURS. FEB. 7 at 10AM
Contact: Roberta Oster, Communications Director
roberta@virginiainterfaithcenter.org
C: 804-615-4192

Faith Leaders Oppose SB1024: a Bill that Would Allow Guns in Houses of Worship
Thurs., Feb. 7th at 10AM – Press Conference – House Briefing Room (Pocahontas Building, 900 E. Main St. 1st floor)

Richmond, VA — Faith leaders from churches, synagogues, and mosques across Virginia will speak at a Feb. 7th press conference to oppose a bill that would allow guns in houses of worship. Senate Bill 1024, sponsored by Sen. Dick Black (R-Loudon County) would repeal the law that currently prohibits carrying dangerous weapons into houses of worship. SB 1024 passed the Senate on Jan. 23 and will soon be heard in the House.

“As people of faith, we want our worship spaces to be holy, safe, and a refuge that is free from violence. Weapons that kill and maim have no place in our sacred spaces. We come together with leaders from different faiths, in partnership with the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP), to voice our concerns about this dangerous legislation,” said Pastor Rodney Hunter, Pastor of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church and co-director of VICPP.

At present, Virginia law prohibits people from bringing weapons and firearms into places of worship “without good and sufficient reason.” Only police officers, security guards and those who have a reason to carry a weapon into a house of worship are permitted to do so. This bill would allow anyone – including untrained or unstable congregants or guests – to carry weapons into houses of worship. Faith leaders believe that unskilled people using guns in a stressful situation will likely result in more harm than help. Faith leaders recognize the need to keep their congregants safe and believe the bill undermines the authority of congregational leaders who know best how to keep their congregants secure. Since 1950, Virginia legislators from both parties have supported the continuation of the ban on carrying a dangerous weapon into a place of worship. SB 1024 would put faith communities and all Virginians at risk.

SPEAKERS

  • MODERATOR: Julie Swanson, Board President, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy
  • Pastor Rodney Hunter, Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church and Co-Executive Director, Virginia Interfaith Center
  • Delegate (Rev) Delores McQuinn (D-70th), Associate Minister, New Bridge Baptist Church
  • Rabbi Michael Knopf, Temple Beth El, Richmond
  • Hurunnessa Fariad, Outreach Coordinator for the Adams Center (second largest Mosque in the country with 25,000 members)
  • Jeff Caruso, Executive Director, Virginia Catholic Conference
  • Imam Michael Abdul Hakim, Masjid Bilal, Muslim American Community RVA
  • Delegate Betsy Carr (D-69th)
  • Delegate (Rev) Dr. Luke Torian, (TBA) (D-52nd) Sr Pastor, First Mount Zion Baptist Church
  • Ashley Mejias, Director of English Ministries, Lord Jesus Korean Church

Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy opposes this bill because:

  1. Our faith values teach us to live in compassion and concern for the common good — that is why we stand with those working to ensure a decrease in gun violence. However, a decrease in violence cannot be achieved by empowering untrained people to bring weapons to the sacred spaces where we teach messages of peace and love of neighbor in communion with God.
  2. The bill is unnecessary and violates the freedom and self-determination of religious communities. Congregations and their leadership should be responsible for their own security. We recognize that many congregations have security concerns, but their leaders should make these decisions, not random individuals who are not trained to respond to gun violence. Due to the increased violence directed toward places of worship, especially synagogues, mosques and African American churches, some communities have found it necessary to hire armed police or guards. The current law banning weapons in worship except when there is a good and sufficient reason, allows worshipping communities to design security measures that they feel best fit their community. There is no need to repeal that law.
  3. Safety. There are countless possibilities for accidents among people standing, sitting, kneeling and moving around in worship when weapons are carried by unskilled and possibly careless individuals. A gun could easily fall from a pocket and discharge, or a curious child could pick up a weapon from a pew or coat pocket. Even in the event of an actual attack on a congregation, the presence of armed persons within the congregation would likely result in more injuries, and create confusion for first responders arriving at the scene trying to identify the attacker.

See attached op ed in the Richmond Times-Dispatch by Rabbi Michael Knopf, Pastor Rodney Hunter, Pastor Jim Somerville.

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The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy advocates economic, social, and environmental justice in Virginia’s policies and practices, through education, prayer and action.
To learn more, visit www.virginiainterfaithcenter.org.