Archbishop Coakley welcomes passage of Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

WASHINGTON – Following the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, commended members of Congress for passing the bill. 
 
Archbishop Coakley’s full statement follows:
 
“I welcome the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which will take meaningful action to prevent gun violence and protect lives. The investments in mental health services and reasonable measures to regulate guns included in this bill are positive initial steps towards confronting a culture of violence. This agreement, born of dialogue and compromise to advance the safety and well-being of all, embodies the work Pope Francis calls us to in his encyclical, Fratelli tutti, ‘Good politics combines love with hope and with confidence in the reserves of goodness present in human hearts.’ I commend members of Congress for their work thus far and encourage them to continue working to confront the plague of gun violence in our nation.”  
 
The USCCB has consistently supported the sensible regulation, sale and use of firearms. On June 3, the USCCB sent a letter to all members of Congress urging lawmakers to “unite in their humanity to stop the massacres of human lives” and to advance life-saving legislation to address gun violence. On June 23, the USCCB sent a letter to all members of Congress in support of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.