Bishop Blaire Expresses Hope That President’s Action On Guns Promotes A Culture Of Life

WASHINGTON—The U.S. bishops hopethat any action taken by the Obama administration on gun violence prevention willlead to greater respect for human life, said the bishop who chairs theCommittee on Domestic Justice and Human Development. Bishop Stephen E. Blaireof Stockton, California, reacted to President Obama's January 16 proposal.

"The bishops hope that the stepstaken by the administration will help to build a culture of life," said BishopBlaire. "The frequent mass shootings over the course of 2012 reflected a tragicdevaluing of human life, but also pointed to the moral duty of all people totake steps to defend it."

Bishop Blaire also recounted thefive priorities made by the bishops in their 2000 statement, Responsibility, Rehabilitation andRestoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice. Thesewere: 1. Support measures that control the sale and use of firearms, 2. Supportmeasures that make guns safer, 3. Call for sensible regulations of handguns, 4.Support legislative efforts that seek to protect society from violenceassociated with easy access to deadly weapons including assault rifles, and 5.Make a serious commitment to confront the pervasive role of addiction andmental illness in crime.

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Keywords: Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, Committee on DomesticJustice and Human Development, gun control, President Barack Obama, Newtown,violence, U.S. bishops, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB

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