March 21, 2018 – Approximately 38,000 people are killed by firearms in the United States each year. These deaths are caused by suicide and homicide, as well as by accident. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2016, the firearm death rate was approximately 12 deaths per 100,000. That statistic exceeds many other nations and represents a national tragedy and serious public health issue. The Jewish value of pikuach nefesh teaches Jews that the preservation of human life is of supreme importance and overrides almost every other commandment in the Torah. Because of this, JCRC/AJC feels compelled to call on our leaders to take the necessary steps to reduce gun violence in the United States.
Specifically, JCRC/AJC calls on our legislative leaders to:
- Support universal background checks for all gun transactions, including person-to-person
- Oppose concealed carry reciprocity
- Support extreme risk protection orders
- End the prohibition of government funding of gun violence research because gun violence is a grave public health epidemic
- Oppose permitless carry
- Support the abolition of open carry
- Oppose the sale of semi-automatic firearms with a large magazine of ammunition designed and configured for rapid fire and combat useMoreover, JCRC/AJC calls on our legislative and community leaders to engage in open and productive dialogue on this issue in order to craft a multi-faceted approach to eliminate gun violence in our nation.