This weekend, at least 29 people were killed and dozens more were injured in two mass shootings: one in Dayton, Ohio, the other in El Paso Texas.
Over the weekend, Christian leaders, activists, pastors, teachers and writers took to Twitter to respond. Many expressed their sorrow. Many offered prayers. Many called for legislative action.
Here are some of the responses (we’ll be updating this throughout the day).
Shane Claiborne
2 mass shootings in 24 hours.
20 dead & 26 injured in El Paso, TX.
9 dead & 16 injured in Dayton, OH.
Let us pray for all those affected…
and then let’s honor their lives by taking action to end gun violence.Another America is possible.
— Shane Claiborne (@ShaneClaiborne) August 4, 2019
Of all the civilians killed by guns in developed countries, 86% are in the US. Of all the children killed in 23 developed countries, 87% are in the US.
We have more gun homicides in the US than all the other industrialized countries combined.
4 times more than the next country.— Shane Claiborne (@ShaneClaiborne) August 3, 2019
Nichole Nordeman
Sincerely praying for pastors across the country this morning. For the courage and conviction to name this, denounce it and lead. You didn’t answer a calling to be polite and popular. Find your fire. ?? https://t.co/Rf0VkSECAl
— Nichole Nordeman (@nicholenordeman) August 4, 2019
Father James Martin
Gun Control is a Pro-Life Issue https://t.co/lSlfHhtORw
— James Martin, SJ (@JamesMartinSJ) August 4, 2019
Ashlee Eiland
I’ll have better words later. Right now, I’m mourning. I’m holding my kids knowing exactly how we got here.
Those who have ears to hear, let them hear. Those who have eyes to see, let them see. And in the pursuit of God’s justice, may our hearts not harden. Amen. #ElPaso #Dayton
— Ashlee Eiland (@Ashlee_Eiland) August 4, 2019
Craig Groeschel
Please join me in prayer for all those affected by the tragic shooting in El Paso, TX. My heart breaks for this community. ? “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18 pic.twitter.com/OGhVYXMQbq
— Craig Groeschel (@craiggroeschel) August 4, 2019
Priscilla Shirer
#ElPaso ??
— Priscilla Shirer (@PriscillaShirer) August 4, 2019
Eugene Cho
Heartbroken…again. We pray & grieve for all who've been impacted by the shooting in El Paso, Texas. It's tragic that violence & mass shootings in America seem normal. It's not normal. It's insane. We can't keep going on like this. When will we change our ways? How long, O Lord?
— Eugene Cho (@EugeneCho) August 4, 2019
Trillia Newbell
What a tragedy in El Paso. Politics aside, at some point we have to say enough is enough. We are watching humans die week after week in mass shootings. So tragic.
— Trillia Newbell (@trillianewbell) August 3, 2019
Jo Saxton
Jamie Tworkowski
If a leader has nothing to say about gun violence and immigration and white supremacy and climate change in 2019, then they are not a leader.
Leaders help solve problems. Leaders speak truth to power.
Leaders talk about hard things.Be the change you wish to see.
— Jamie Tworkowski (@jamietworkowski) August 4, 2019
Rev. Samuel Rodriguez
“The NHCLC’s community of thousands upon thousands of churches is profoundly grieving at the terror unleashed in El Paso today, terror targeting our nation’s beloved Hispanic community. We urge our political leaders, Democrat and Republican, to once-and-for-all depoliticize immigration in this country and instead embrace a fact-based approach to this and to all political questions that divide us. Even more importantly, we call upon people of sincere faith in every corner of our country to recommit themselves to loving the ‘other’ and to begin to pray with all their might that God would heal our broken land.”
— Samuel Rodriguez (@nhclc) August 4, 2019
Joshua DuBois
My heart is broken.
For families dealing with unthinkable horror.
For a country too callous to see how its flood of weapons flood over into the wrong hands.
For a president whose angry words ripple into dark corners & have terrible impacts there.
& dear God I want us to change.— Joshua DuBois (@joshuadubois) August 4, 2019
J.D. Greear
In the face of such tragic loss of life, we weep with those who are now weeping. And we plead with God for healing. Maranatha! https://t.co/29MCIl6aPP
— J.D. Greear (@jdgreear) August 4, 2019
Horrendous. Senseless. How long, O Lord? Grieving for friends in El Paso.
— J.D. Greear (@jdgreear) August 4, 2019
Ed Stetzer
https://twitter.com/edstetzer/status/1157857933931229184
https://twitter.com/edstetzer/status/1158092897989910529
https://twitter.com/edstetzer/status/1158113109254529024
Karen Swallow Prior
Awhile back @JenHatmaker and I had a dialogue at the @washingtonpost about guns.
The common ground and common sense we sought then is needed more than ever, sadly. https://t.co/9uvzCd6E85
— Karen Swallow Prior (Notorious KSP) (@KSPrior) August 4, 2019
Margaret Feinberg
Mourning with those who are mourn this morning. Lord, have mercy.
— Margaret Feinberg (@mafeinberg) August 4, 2019
Lisa Bevere
We woke to discover another layer of carnage was added to the terror our nation experienced yesterday. It’s time to move beyond the blame & for ALL of us to unite to find solutions. Pray! Then let’s attack the problem that’s attacking our people! #Dayton #elpaso #America pic.twitter.com/gOcEasl0xm
— Lisa Bevere (@LisaBevere) August 4, 2019
Dr. Tony Evans
Praying for all in El Paso and Ohio. Join me in praying for peace and healing.
— Tony Evans (@drtonyevans) August 4, 2019
Louie Giglio
“More young men in their 20’s taking life like it’s nothing. We are living in troubling times with a troubled generation. I don’t care about political persuasions or agendas—the President must take the lead and bring change. I pray for those who mourn, for all wounded and the for leaders of our nation of all parties. Jesus, help us all.”
// i t ‘ s t i m e //
More young men in their 20’s taking life like it’s nothing. We are living in troubling times with a troubled generation. I don’t care about political persuasions or agendas—the President must… https://t.co/19gMIA0aqj— Louie Giglio (@louiegiglio) August 4, 2019
Jonathan Martin
Fellow Pentecostal/charismatic leaders: if you won’t clearly name & oppose white supremacy now, don’t blame the devil when younger people begin to leave your movement in droves later. If we don’t know the devil when we kiss him on the mouth, they will know we aren’t prophetic.
— Jonathan Martin (@theboyonthebike) August 5, 2019
Anne Lamott
There is no meaning in the massacres—yet. But I’ll tell my Sunday School kids this morning that there will be, and it will be our belief that Goodness is sovereign here, no matter how ghastly things look. The animating love we have for each other for the poor, and the crushed.
— ANNE LAMOTT (@ANNELAMOTT) August 4, 2019
We see Christ crucified today, in the agony, the ongoing tragedies of being human. We can’t pretend that this is anything other than insane, evil. But it’s not the end of the story. We’ll march soon. Today, we do what we can: we try to be good & kind to one another, and the poor.
— ANNE LAMOTT (@ANNELAMOTT) August 4, 2019
