Our hearts go out to the victims of yesterday’s mass shooting attack in a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado. The ten people senselessly murdered, including a police officer, were victims of an epidemic of mass gun violence that has been rampant for years in the United States. It must stop.
As American Jews, we understand that the weapon used in this mass attack – an AR-15 assault rifle – is also often the weapon of choice used in mass attacks against American Jews and other vulnerable communities. An AR-15 was used in the massacre at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue, the Chabad of Poway attack, and the Jersey City shooting. This and similar weapons present a consistent, direct threat to both our community and the country as a whole.
While we await further information and a thorough investigation by law enforcement, it is clear that we cannot close our eyes to this type of gun violence. It ravages our communities and undermines the sense of personal security that all Americans deserve. We strongly urge Congress to pass smart legislation to combat the gun violence epidemic that all Americans are facing.
