NORWOOD, N.J.—About 70 residents—including community leaders and public officials—joined in unison holding candles and saying silent prayers for dozens of victims of gun violence in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio at a candlelight vigil Aug. 8 at the Presbyterian Church in Norwood.
The half-hour candlelight vigil was a solemn remembrance of more than 30 lives lost at America’s two most recent mass killings, in addition to recent shootings in Chicago, Illinois and Baltimore, Maryland.
According to Moms Demand Action—a nationwide grassroots organization with six million members including chapters throughout New Jersey—36,000 Americans die annually in gun-related violence, and another 100,000 are shot and injured.
“With death and injury tolls this high, America is undeniably a nation of gun violence survivors. But the impact of gun violence extends far beyond those killed or injured,” said a statement issued by Moms Demand Action, who participated in the vigil.
58 percent face gun violence
“Gun violence in any form—whether a person witnessed an act of gun violence, was threatened or wounded with a gun, or had someone they know or care for wounded or killed—can leave a lasting impact on individuals. Forms of gun violence can include, but are not limited to: gun suicides, gun homicides, domestic violence involving a gun, and unintentional shootings. Defined this way, a recent national poll estimated that 58% of American adults responded that they or someone they care for have experienced gun violence in their lifetime,” said Moms Demand Action. “Yet, as a country we do not talk enough about the lifelong impact of these many forms of gun violence,” the statement added.
‘Sad, poignant, hopeful’
Most of the vigil focused on remembering the recent massacres’ victims and offering possible solutions to minimize or prevent future gun violence.
“It was sad, poignant and yet hopeful. I am proud to have brought together activists, community and religious leaders and our Congressman [U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer] to take some time to remember all those lost in the latest episodes of gun violence,” said Annie Hausmann, a Democratic candidate for mayor who coordinated the event.
She said the impromptu vigil showed “I am not alone in my outrage that this keeps happening and I am not alone in desperately wanting things to change. We must come together to end this scourge of violence and enact common sense solutions to help protect our families.”
Hausmann said the vigil showed “we were able to come together as a community to honor these victims. I hope we never have to do it again,” she added.