Loretto, other women religious communities offer joint statement on April 10 mass shooting in Louisville

We, the vowed, co-members, associates and partners of our women religious communities, are devastated by the loss of five more lives in Monday’s mass shooting in Louisville. This marked the 146th mass shooting of 2023, with 209 people dead and more than 550 injured. We draw strength and solace from our prayer for an end to this senseless violence, but we demand more.

The congregations call on all branches of government, from the White House to the smallest city council, to take immediate and decisive action to reduce gun violence by enforcing existing gun regulations and passing sensible gun regulations such as safe storage and “red flag laws” to prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands.

We also encourage states like Kentucky, which have opted out of federal gun laws, to work with ALL branches of government to help ensure the safety of their citizens. Gov. Andy Beshear allowed House Bill 153, which bans Kentucky’s state and local law enforcement from assisting in any federal bans on guns, ammunition or firearms accessories, to become law without his signature. We call on ALL elected representatives to put the safety of their citizens above the safety of their jobs, and act to protect lives despite political consequences.

We call upon ALL Kentucky citizens to reach out to their legislators every day via the Legislative Message Line (1-800-372-7181) until they take action.

At the same time, we ask our representatives to more fully fund efforts that will prevent such tragedies at the source — including mental health services, school counseling, neighborhood improvements, community outreach and mediation — in the 2024 federal budget and beyond. A multi-pronged approach that manages the destructive potential of guns AND offers alternatives to violence is our best hope of saving the nearly 50,000 Americans who die from gun violence every year.

Let each of us lift those affected by Monday’s tragedy and countless other tragedies in love and prayer. At the same time, let each of us reach out to our elected representatives, demanding that they put aside party and power to protect those under their care.

Dominican Sisters of Peace
Sisters of Loretto/Loretto Community
The Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Justice Team
The Leadership Team of the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville

In the news

The Record reported on the statement on April 13, 2023

Global Sisters Report ran this story about the statement on April 17, 2023.