Opinion: Prayer alone will never end gun violence

Saying, “Lord have mercy,” or any other divine incantation is a pointless response to gun violence in America. We’ve said enough empty prayers.

It's time to work for a world where children are not murdered in school, shoppers are not gunned down in a mall or parking lot, and worshippers are not fatally wounded in church.

Within six minutes, a teenager became an active shooter in Uvalde, obliterating the lives of at least 19 children and two teachers. Within minutes their survivors were forever scarred by devastating grief — grief that could have been avoided if our prayers were married to corrective action instead of vapid words.

How many more bodies will be torn open by gunfire and left in a pool of blood? How many tiny coffins will hold our lifeless children? How many survivors will be forever traumatized because our politicians choose prayer over legislation?

If not accompanied by common sense gun-reform laws like universal background checks, safe storage laws, domestic victim protection, and red flag laws, prayers for protection seem useless.

Shortly after the shooting, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted, “America is failing our youngest generations from decades of rejecting good moral values and teachings.” She is right. Our elected officials don't value cooperative work for the greater good. We continue to fail our children by insisting that might makes right. Tangled in the National Rifle Association's purse strings, many politicians exchange public safety for personal gain. It's impossible to tally the costs of such transactions, but we can start by counting body bags after an unprovoked, fatal shooting.

Greene continued, “Our nation needs to take a serious look at the state of mental health today,” and she is right. We desperately need to provide mental health services. The global pandemic triggered a spike in depression and anxiety disorders — particularly in teens and young adults. Affordable mental health care and common-sense gun reform are not mutually exclusive. We must do both.

Instead of gun control laws, Greene argues that “We need to return to God.” But faith itself is not an effective safety strategy. To drive a car, we are legally required to have a license, vehicle registration and auto insurance. Drivers must observe traffic lights and speed limits for the safety of all. Returning to God won’t keep our roads safe any more than it will protect innocent people from active shooters. Legislation is required.

Prayer alone will never end gun violence. In fact, mass shootings are getting worse by the day in our country, especially in Texas. Ted Cruz, Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton and other politicians supported by the NRA argue that legislation will not stop mass shootings. However, the evidence proves otherwise. Mass shootings have increased since Gov. Abbott and the Texas legislature made it easier to purchase and carry guns. Why not give gun reform laws a chance to work? If legislation proves ineffective, it could be reevaluated and changed in the future. 

Given my profession, I turn to the gospels daily, but I find a radically different Jesus than the one Greene, Cruz, Abbott or Paxton know. The Jesus I meet in the New Testament never pursued wealth or political power. On the night of his arrest, Jesus rebuked Peter for wielding a defensive sword, but his harshest words were reserved for those who crushed the vulnerable instead of lifting them with love.

No matter our religious persuasion, it’s time to return to love. Let’s address the need for affordable mental health services. Let’s prioritize our values and protect our citizens from avoidable harm. Let’s work together to heal the world. Maybe then the prayers of the faithful will be answered.

Barlow-Williams is senior pastor at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin. 

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Opinion: Faith without works is dead