What others are saying

The General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church expresses our deepest sorrow and grief for the victims of the shootings on the campus of Virginia Tech... .
What is indeed tragic is the fact that this violence is commonplace in U.S. society. In 2005, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reports that there were 10,100 deaths by firearms in the United States. This represents an average of four deaths for every 100,000 people in the United States. By contrast, England, Wales, Scotland, and Canada averaged 0.54 deaths for every 100,000 people. The presence of guns in U.S. society has not led to greater security but in fact has undermined the general sense of safety.
Gun violence has pervaded U.S. society. The United Methodist Church Book of Resolutions states that our church recognizes and deplores “violence which kills and injures children and youth” (No. 251). ...
We will continue to pray for the healing and restoration of the Virginia Tech community.
—Jim Winkler, General Secretary
General Board of Church and Society