INDIANAPOLIS–The archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis says Congress should pass a ban on what he calls “assault weapons”. Archbishop Charles Thompson also says reasonable measures should be taken to limit civilian access to weapons with high capacity magazines.
Thompson did not clarify what is meant by “assault weapons”.
“We acknowledge the importance of the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, but considering the daily advances in modern technology, and the fact that some weapons are increasingly capable of causing mass murder when used with an evil purpose, we believe that the common good requires reasonable steps to limit access to such weapons by those who intend to misuse them in any way,” said Thompson, in a prepared statement written June 16.
Thompson said he is echoing the sentiments of Pope Francis, citing quotes from the Pope.
“I pray for the children and adults killed, and for their families. … It is time to say ‘no’ to the indiscriminate trafficking of weapons.”
Thompson cited mass shootings in recent weeks when reiterating recommendations from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2017:
A total ban on assault weapons;
Measures that control the sale and use of firearms, such as universal background checks for all gun purchases;
Limitations on civilian access to high-capacity weapons and ammunition magazines;
A federal law to criminalize gun trafficking;
Improved access to mental health care for those who may be prone to violence;
Regulations and limitations on the purchasing of handguns; and
Measures that make guns safer, such as locks that prevent children and anyone other than the owner from using the gun without permission and supervision.
Thompson denounced racially-motivated crimes and also called on Indiana lawmakers to take action.
“We are keenly aware that violence in our society will not be solved by legislation alone because many factors contribute to the violence we are witnessing all around us today. Even so, our leaders must engage in a real debate about urgently needed measures to save lives and make our communities safer.”
