Pennsylvania faith leaders issue urgent call for lawmakers to protect our communities from gun violence | PennLive letters [Video]

Gun violence is a scourge on our nation, afflicting the most vulnerable members. We have not done enough in our commonwealth to protect the innocents. Schools should be safe places where children can learn and teachers can teach without fear of losing their lives. Our citizens should be safe in their neighborhoods.

We, the clergy of the Harrisburg region, are speaking with one voice to end gun violence in Pennsylvania. The number of annual gun deaths in Pennsylvania is reported to be twice that of all of the New England states, combined. We stand together in support of the current initiative to buy back guns in Harrisburg.

We ask the General Assembly to pass new laws that will make it more difficult for criminals to obtain guns and specifically to ban semi-automatic firearms, which are the weapons often used in mass shootings.

We recognize that our commonwealth is a place …