US Bishops repeat calls for gun control after Chicago hospital shooting

Mercy Hospital, Wiki image

Source: USCCB/ICN

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement calling for prayers and steps to curb gun violence after the latest shooting incident, at the Mercy Hospital in Chicago yesterday, in which a gunman killed a doctor, a policeman and a pharmacist, before shooting himself.

Cardinal Daniel N DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, President of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops said in a statement:

"Yesterday, at a place which should be a centre of healing, a police officer, a doctor and a pharmaceutical resident lost their lives in a senseless act of gun violence. The shooting was carried out at Mercy Hospital on the south side of Chicago. We entrust to Almighty God the victims and their loved ones and for the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe. May her love and compassion embrace and bring comfort to those who sorrow.

Again, we must ask the question how a person capable of such violence was able to obtain a firearm to carry out this heinous act. In our desire to help promote a culture of life, we bishops will continue to ask that public policies be supported to enact reasonable gun measures to help curb this pervasive plague of gun violence. Our prayers are with the staff of Mercy Hospital and the people of the Archdiocese of Chicago as they continue God's healing work."

Up to 8 November this year there had been 308 mass shootings in the USA. The Gun Violence Archive has recorded a total of 47,472 incidents of gun violence, which have killed 12,056 people.

The USCCB has repeatedly called for stricter gun control. For more information see: www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/criminal-justice-restorative-justice/backgrounder-on-gun-violence.cfm