Gun Violence

Gun control: What does the Church say? (originally published in 2013)

https://www.mncatholic.org/gun_control_what_does_the_church_say

The Sandy Hook school massacre of 20 innocent children and seven adults by a troubled gunman — who used a semi-automatic “assault” rifle to kill his victims — has ignited a national debate about gun control.

America has a problem with gun violence. A culture that celebrates violence, coupled with a society in which guns are too easily accessible, has contributed to one gun tragedy after another — whether in the form of workplace shootings, street violence, domestic strife, school massacres, or innocent kids just playing around like their “heroes” and getting killed.

Clearly, a re-examination of our state’s and our nation’s gun laws is warranted, and common-sense reforms should be enacted to curb the violence.

Archbishop Hebda testifies in Gun Violence Prevention Working Group at the Minnesota Senate, 2025

Archbishop Hebda responds to gun legislation, 2018

The Pillar: Bishops push 'prophetic' and 'pragmatic' state advocacy on guns, 2022

“People tend to view the Church's priorities based on their political leanings,” Morris said, further clouding Catholic calls for reform. “Those on one side think all the Church does is oppose abortion. Those on the other side wonder why the Church isn't focusing on abortion instead of getting involved in gun issues.”

Jason Adkins, executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, agreed. He also told The Pillar that the mass shootings of the past weeks are indicative of a deeply broken American society.

The Buffalo and Texas shootings, Adkins said, are “troubling on a deeper level because of the youth of the perpetrators.”

“These are symptoms of a society that is sick at its core, and which too often relies on violence to both solve conflict and to unleash the existential crises of the soul,” said Adkins. “It is a primal scream. Poison in many forms continues to pour into the human ecology, warping the minds and hearts of our people.”

Safe Schools Legislative Efforts (this is not an exhaustive list)

2025 Sign-on Letter: https://www.mncatholic.org/letter_to_the_governor_and_legislative_leaders
2023 Letter to Governor Walz: https://www.mncatholic.org/letter_to_governor_walz_school_safety_in_nonpublic_schools
2022 Column: https://www.mncatholic.org/protecting_our_children_s_right_to_be_safe_at_school

Additional Gun Violence Prevention Efforts

Testimony in support of Protective order to prevent gun violence: https://www.mncatholic.org/letter_of_testimony_protective_order_to_prevent_gun_violence
Testimony in Support of Increased Penalties for Sellers of Straw Gun Purchases: https://www.mncatholic.org/testimony_in_support_of_s_f_733
Testimony in Support of Sales tax exemption for firearm safety devices: https://www.mncatholic.org/testimony_in_support_of_sales_tax_exemption_for_firearm_safety_devices
Column: https://www.mncatholic.org/overcoming_gun_absolutism

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