COMMENTARY
tvc.dsj.org | October 24, 2017
15
America’s Fatal Obsession With Guns
By Tony Magliano
Internationally syndicated social justice
and peace columnist
[email protected]
“It’s the worst mass shooting in modern American
history.”
The above opening sentence is the exact lead sen-
tence I used in a column last year, because last year’s
mass shooting in an Orlando, FL, nightclub was the
worst in modern U.S. history, that is, until just days
ago when at least 59 people were shot dead, and more
than 526 were injured during a music festival in Las
Vegas.
Now Las Vegas carries the tragic distinction as
being the site of the worst mass shooting in modern
American history. May there never be another place
to bear that dreadful title.
But when a culture’s decreasing respect for hu-
man life and its signifi cant indiff erence to violence
is combined with its easy legal access to guns, the
results are not diffi cult to predict.
Guns do not make us safer. According to CNN,
and many other reports, Americans own by far more
guns per person than residents of any other country.
Of the world’s estimated 650 million civilian-owned
guns, nearly half – 310 million guns – are owned by
Americans.
Now consider this: Gun homicide rates are over
25 times higher in the U.S. than in any of the other
wealthy nations. And gun-related suicides are eight
times higher in the U.S. than in other high-income
countries.
The U.S. also has the tragic distinction of having
by far the most mass shootings of any nation on earth
(see: http://cnn.it/2xP2I4A).
According to research compiled by criminologist
Frederic Lemieux, “The higher the gun ownership
rate, the more a country is susceptible to experiencing
mass shooting incidents.”
“It’s the worst mass shooting
in modern American history.”
Lemieux reports that between 1983 to 2013, 119
mass shootings occurred worldwide, with the U.S.
accounting for 78 of those mass shootings. Sixty-
six percent of all mass shootings in that 30-year
period were in just one country – the United States
(see: http://on.mktw.net/2g5B20U).
Buying guns in the U.S. is far too easy.
Common sense federal gun control legislation is
obviously needed. Yet, Congress refuses to act. And
arguably the major reason for Congress’ paralysis can
be spell out with three letters: NRA.
The National Rifl e Association mounts a powerful
lobbying eff ort, and any member of Congress brave
enough to back common sense gun control legislation
is targeted for reelection defeat.
Strong gun laws are clearly associated with lower
gun death rates, and strict background check laws
are the fi rst step to keeping guns out of the hands of
dangerous people (see: http://bit.ly/2xkqAIY).
Present federal law only requires licensed gun
dealers to initiate background checks. And since gun
sales often take place between unlicensed persons,
approximately 40 percent of all fi rearms transferred
in the U.S. are done without a background check. Con-
gress needs to close this dangerous giant loophole.
There is no comprehensive national system of
gun registration. Again, Congress needs to step up
to the plate and pass comprehensive gun registration
legislation.
Congress also needs to ban assault weapons and
large capacity ammunition magazine clips which
have been used in many mass shootings.
Please email and call your senators and congress-
person (Capitol switchboard: 202-224-3121) urging
them to introduce or co-sponsor comprehensive gun
background check, registration and assault weapons
ban legislation.
Consider the very sad fact that of the ap-
proximately 31,000 annual gun deaths in the
U.S., 19,000 people shoot themselves to death
(see: http://bit.ly/1N8wdev).
Passage of universal health insurance – including
full mental health care – needs to also be urged when
communicating with your congressional delegation.
On A Firm Foundation: A Match Made in Heaven - $2M for Parish Endowments
Mary Quilici Aumack
Executive Director
Catholic Community Foundation of
Santa Clara County
We’ve all heard the term “a match made in heaven.”
Perhaps it referred to a couple at a joyful wedding.
Or maybe the reference was to an eff ective business
partnership. At our house, it might be the match of
beautifully sharp cheddar cheese with a glass of
Doug’s Baccarossa wine.
What makes a good match? Shared interest, shared
values, shared vision.
One year ago we announced a $1Million match
to provide incentive for the development of Parish
Endowments. At that time, we held 11 endowments
for parishes.
Endowments are a central part of the work of the
Foundation. These are true permanent funds, from
wh