Bongiorno cites information published by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence that guns kept in the home are 22 times more likely to be used in accidental shootings, assaults, or suicide attempts than in an act of self-defense.
“This is not to impugn the rights of responsible gun owners,” Gibbons said. “For lots of reasons, some of our most pacific parishioners own guns. The causes of gun violence are complex and many-layered. We undoubtedly need a national policy that addresses the issue more comprehensibly.
“A program like this is no panacea, but the fact is that if you can reduce the number of unwanted guns in a community, you improve public safety,” he said.
Marshall, too, said that a program like this doesn’t end the threat of violence, but he believes that every little bit helps.
“If you can take away even just one gun that might have been used incorrectly, it’s already a success,” he said.
Nancy Shohet West can be reached at nancyswest@ gmail.com.
