ENGAGE Table Talk – II

Biblical Precepts

The will of God is nonviolence
Genesis Creation Story is nonviolent
Violence happens because of human choice
The Fifth Commandment calls us to not kill or murder.
Warfare in OT is political violence theologically justified, yet contrary to God’s will
Isaiah gives vision of “swords into plowshares, spears into pruning hooks”.
Nonviolence is the foundational ethic of Jesus Christ
Paul is theologian of nonviolence: Fruits of Spirit and Armor of God
The state is justified in using harsh methods for the sake of order
Romans 13 is bookended by government responsibility to love
Revelation concludes with vision of “New Heaven-New Earth: No more  dying or crying”.

ELCA Positions on Gun Violence Prevention

The 1989 Churchwide Assembly resolved to ban military-style semi-automatic weapons.
The 1993 CWA resolved to support the Brady Bill and urged several controls.
The 1994 Church Council calls on members to become involved in GVP actions.
The 1995 Social Statement “For Peace in God’s World” calls the people to create peaceful environments.
The 2013 CWA urged members to contact elected officials and advocate for universal background checks, prevention of gun trafficking, reporting of lost or stolen guns, the need to address mental health issues and suicide prevention.
The 2016 CWA directed the Church Council and ELCA Committees to address universal background checks, an assault weapons ban, prevention of those on the Terrorist watch List from purchasing guns, and to organize entire Church for GVP. 

The SPAS overwhelmingly passed strong resolutions in 2013, 2016, 2017, 2022, and 2025 including calling upon legislators to address universal background checks, assault weapons ban, prevention of those on the TWL from purchasing guns and opposition to Stand your Ground and Permitless Carry Bills. In 2026 the SPAS in Assembly passed an assault weapons ban resolution with over 400 in support and only three votes against. In 2025 the ELCA passed a Statement on Faith and Civic Life which called upon public and political advocacy for social concerns which opens the door for actions relating to gun violence prevention.

The Evidence

In 2025, according to Protect Minnesota, 549 Minnesotans died by a firearm: 424by suicide (77%), 119 by homicide (22%), 6 by other (1%).  SUICIDES: Males accounted for most suicides (90%) and females (10%). Whites accounted for 86% with Blacks at 8% and Hispanics 2%. Marital Status: 33% were married, 20% divorced and 41% never married, 4% widowed, 1% separated. Education: 10% less than high school, 39% with high school, 30% with associate or higher, 13% with BA degree and 7% with masters or higher. Location: 44% in metro and 53% in greater Minnesota.  Military Service: 20% veteran, and 79% non-vet. HOMICIDES: Race: Blacks 41%, Whites 39%, Hispanic 11%. Sex: Male 71% and female 29%. Vocation: Veteran 3% and non-vet 97%. Education: Less than high school 27%, HS 44%, associate 22%, BA and beyond 6%. Marital Status: Married 10%, divorced 10%, widowed 3%, never married 76%, unknown 2%. Age: 0-19 (14%), 20-24 (17%), 25-44 (50%), 45-64 (13%), 65+ (6%). Location: Metro 69% and greater Minnesota 26%.  

The USA has the highest gun homicide rate, the highest number of guns per capita, and the highest rate of deaths due to assault than other Western Developed Nations (WDN). The USA has more homicides by gun than all of the other high income countries combined. Americans murder each other with guns at an average rate of 20x higher than other high income countries. (OECD). US rate of firearm homicide for children ages 5-14 is 13x higher than any other WDN. The gun homicide rate in the USA is 12-20x the average in WDN. Also, since Florida passed “stand your ground” law, gun related homicides increased 31.6%.

48% more police officers are killed in states like MN that do not mandate UBC. States without a SYG law saw a decrease in homicides by 48%. 74% of MN gun owners support background checks. 84% of all Minnesotans. A 2013 FBI study concluded that an unarmed civilian is 20x more likely to stop a rampage shooting than an armed civilian.

A gun in the home increases chance of being killed by 72%, is 22x more likely to be used in suicide, homicide or accident than in self defense, and increases risk of an abused woman being murdered by 6x.
A recent Harvard study found that the presence of a gun in the home increases risk of suicide by 3-5 times. Toddlers kill more people than do terrorists and are 2x more likely to be killed than police.
American women are 16x more likely to be murdered by guns than in other WDN.
SYG laws in Florida resulted in a significant increase in homicides.

NRA And Founding Documents

The NRA is the most powerful lobbying group in the USA. Their motto could be: “Never give an inch to support GVP laws.” Although the NRA provides firearm safety training, competitions and social occasions, their opposition to common sense gun laws is near 100%. They appeal to the 2nd Amendment: “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” However, the NRA quotes only the second half of the amendment on their national office signage. “Regulation” and “militia” are given only passing reference if at all. Originally, the amendment was focused on authorizing states to organize militias for their protection. But the states, especially those in the South, wanted militias to control slave rebellions. Furthermore, since the USA was a frontier nation, each state was charged with forming militias for the sake of social order and protection. There was meant to be a balance between organized gun protection through the militias and personal use for hunting and protection. Militias were also used to control and dominate the Native population. And finally, the citizens of the country were suspicious of the government becoming too strong by having a standing army. Then, in 2008, the D.C. v Heller case gave support for people to have guns for personal use to protect their homes, a decision that opened the flood gates to an individual right to bear arms anywhere, in spite of the fact that the decision also mentioned the right of states to pass laws for regulation. Finally, we need to consider The Declaration of Independence which speaks of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” for ALL. The Constitution says it is the duty of government to “insure domestic tranquility…and promote the general welfare.” Also note the Amendments promote nonviolence in our national citizenship. There was no unqualified defense of individual rights. NOTE: A leading political philosopher who influenced the Founding Fathers was John Locke who said, “Liberty is not license.” Another, Thomas Hobbs, wrote, “Freedom, where unconstrained, is war of all against all.” George Washington said, “Natural liberty has to be balanced with everyone else’s.” 

Common Sense Gun Laws

  1. Denial of right to purchase for felons, severely mentally ill, those convicted of domestic abuse or awaiting trial.
  2. Requiring trigger locks on guns and safes for gun storage.
  3. Development and sale of smart guns.
  4. Prohibition of assault weapons and sale of large ammo magazines.
  5. Oppose Stand your Ground, Constitutional Carry and Permitless Carry Bills
  6. Registration and licensing of all guns.
  7. Mandating gun safety training.
  8. Increased funding for mental health treatment.
  9. Fund national research on GVP.
  10. Mandate secure storage in homes and automobiles.

Contact Information for Political Leaders

Minnesota: house.mn, senate.mn

Washington: house.gov, senate.gov, (President: whitehouse.gov)

In the Home and Automobile

  1. Keep guns unloaded and locked, with ammunition and guns separated and ammunition also in a locked safe.
  2. Install cable loops through the barrel, and gun locks. Consider not having guns in home.
  3. Before your children go to a friend’s house to play, inquire of the parents if they have guns and if they are locked-up. If not, suggest the kids play at your house. 
  4. Do not keep a loaded weapon in the glove compartment.

ENGAGE: Lutherans for Gun Violence Prevention

  1. Join the conversation about GVP by signing up on Facebook/ENGAGE-ELCA
  2. Invite the ENGAGE Team to lead a GVP presentation in your congregation.
  3. Sign up to be part of the ENGAGE Action Team
  4. Join the Wednesday ENGAGE: Connecting the Dots salons to talk about various GVP (Gun Violence Prevention) aspects. Message me for access code (letnesron@gmail.com)
  5. Participate in quarterly online ENGAGE-FOCUS conversations on current GVP issues. See: www.spas-elca.org/calendar/events
  6. CONTACT: Rev. Dr. Ron Letnes (letnesron@gmail.com) 763-291-4003 for information and arrangements.