Now, is It Time To End Gun Violence?
PITTSBURGH — Armed with an AR-15-style assault rifle and at least three handguns, a man shouting anti-Semitic slurs opened fire inside a Pittsburgh synagogue Saturday morning, killing at least 11 congregants and wounding four police officers and two others, the authorities said.
In a rampage described as among the deadliest against the Jewish community in the United States, the assailant stormed into the Tree of Life Congregation, where worshipers had gathered in separate rooms to celebrate their faith, and shot indiscriminately into the crowd, shattering what had otherwise been a peaceful morning.
The assailant, identified by law enforcement officials as Robert D. Bowers, fired for several minutes and was leaving the synagogue when officers, dressed in tactical gear and armed with rifles, met him at the door. According to the police, Mr. Bowers exchanged gunfire with officers before retreating back inside and barricading himself inside a third-floor room. He eventually surrendered.
Saturday’s deadly shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh is a gut-wrenching reminder that when hate comes armed with a gun, it kills.
Some will say it’s too soon to talk about solutions to gun violence. But for the families attacked while worshiping, it’s already too late.
As the Tree of Life congregation’s leader Rabbi Jeffrey Myers wrote this summer, ‘we deserve better’ when it comes to our nation’s gun laws.
We stand with the families of the victims and survivors as they grieve, but we must also honor them with action.
Across the country there are people running for office who, like us, are tired of waiting for action and decided to do something about it.
Over 2,200 Gun Sense Candidates will be on the ballot on November 6, and they are depending on us to do our part to make real change that will save lives.
Our Moms Demand Action volunteers are organizing actions across the country to support Gun Sense Candidates between now and Election Day.
Visit https://everytown.org/ for information on how to take action!
Thank you for your commitment to ending gun violence.
John Feinblatt
President, Everytown for Gun Safety