New City Church

WHEREAS, the Southern Baptist Convention has stated an unwavering commitment to the value of human life and 

WHEREAS, the Bible clearly affirms that human life is formed by God in His image and is worthy of defending and protecting and

WHEREAS, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did not promote or propagate violence in his earthly ministry and instead preached peace to those who were far away and peace to those who were near (Ephesians 2:11-18) and 

WHEREAS, since 2012 no less than 30,000 people are killed by guns in the United States annually and (Source: Centers for Disease Control/FBI)

WHEREAS, the number of people killed by guns annually in the United States has increased by over 15% since 2012 and (Source: Centers for Disease Control/FBI)

WHEREAS, annually there are over 300 mass shootings that take place in the United States in places like schools, churches, mosques, malls, and other public areas and (Source: Centers for Disease Control/FBI)

WHEREAS, in 2018 there have already been more than 100 mass shootings in the United States claiming the lives of more than 200 people and injuring over 450 others and (Source: Centers for Disease Control/FBI)

WHEREAS in 2018 there have already been 22 school shootings where someone was hurt or killed and (Source: Centers for Disease Control/FBI)

WHEREAS, recent school shootings like those in Santa Fe, Texas and Parkland, Florida demonstrate the need for our cultural belief of universal access to firearms to be evaluated, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Dallas, Texas, June 12-13, 2018, affirm that we will continually pray for and minister to the victims of these tragedies and their families, and be it further 

RESOLVED, That we welcome and commend legislation that would protect individuals from becoming victims of gun violence by elevating the practice and standards by which individuals obtain, purchase, own and operate firearms; and be it further 

RESOLVED, That even though the second amendment to the Constitution of the United States gives citizens the right bear arms, it does not supersede our Biblical mandate to resist evil, do good, seek justice, correct oppression and plead the cause of the helpless (Isaiah 1:15-17), and be it finally 

RESOLVED, That we call on Southern Baptist churches and entities to publicly advocate for the victims of gun violence and their families and measures to decrease the impact of gun violence in American society more so than we advocate for firearm access and ownership.

Submitted May 21, 2018