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Local Church Holds Service Remembering Victims of Gun Violence Across the United States

Calls for ending gun violence mark 4th annual event

Published on Monday, December 12, 2016 | 6:03 am
 

 

“I’ve never liked guns. Ever.” began newly installed All Saints Church Reverend Mike Kinman, at the church’s 4th Annual Gun Violence Prevention Vigil Sunday evening. It was a considerable understatement considering the weight of the evening’s proceedings, as a somber group of church members paid tribute to the 14,035 gun violence in the United States this year.

Ursula Walker, mother of 2014 shooting victim Christopher Walker, opened the evening with a heartfelt rendition of “Let There be Peace on Earth.”

Kinman told the story of a young nurse friend who was shot three times in her classroom by a student. And the sad, inspiring story of US Congresswoman Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords, shot at a political rally in Tucson, Arizona in 2011.

“Gabby Giffords? Melissa’s kid sister?,” He knew Melissa and Gabby from University High School. Gabby was the freshman little sister they let hang around with them. He checked his yearbook.

“It became personal,” he said.

Erin Dunkerly remembered her father, who shot himself sitting in his car in a parking lot in San Dimas in 2006. “My father shot himself, but the bullet hit everyone,” she said, remembering the effect on her family members, his friends, her friends, and their community.

Dunkerly talked about the impact of suicide in the US, emphasizing however, that it was a preventable situation. According to Dunkerly, for every suicide committed, there are 278 that are prevented. Dunkerly also noted that if gun access were reduced by 25% in the US, 4000 suicides would be prevented.

Reverend Kerwin Manning noted the popular shout by announcer Michael Buffer, “Let’s get ready to rumble!,” prompting fight fans. “This makes people want to fight,” said Manning, but I am here to use those words to fight violence.”

“Im here not to comfort, but to agitate,” he said. “It’s time to fight.”

Manning also related his own personal story of young Journey Johnson, 2, of Toledo, Ohio, shot in a shooting accident. “I know her mother,” he said. “These are real people to me, people dear to me,” he said. “Her funeral is tomorrow.”

Manning pledged to “agitate” at every level of government “to change things.”

Following the recollections and remembrances, church members spoke aloud the names of various shooting victims, some of whom were personal friends and family members. Each rang a bell in memory of each victim.

As Dan Carrillo, member of the All Saint Church Gun Violence Prevention Team said earlier in the evening, “This gets harder every year.”

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