After Philadelphia police shootings, Chaput calls for ‘sensible solutions’ to violence

Philadelphia, Pa., Aug 15, 2019 / 03:25 pm (CNA).- After a standoff between police and a gunman in Philadelphia yesterday, in which six officers were shot, Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia has praised the work of the responding officers and called for solutions to root causes of violence.

“The terror that filled yesterday serves as a stark reminder not only of the fragility of life but also of the clear and present danger that illegal drugs and illegally obtained firearms pose to our community,” Chaput said in a statement.

“In addition to our prayers, let’s work together toward sensible solutions that address the root causes of continued violence and seek to lift up those struggling with addictions.”

According to NBC News, police were attempting to serve an arrest warrant at a house in northern Philadelphia on Wednesday when the suspect, who had prior arrests for undisclosed infractions, opened fire.

Hours later, shortly after midnight on Thursday, the suspect surrendered and was taken into custody. All the officers that had been shot were released from the hospital late Wednesday night, including an officer and father who suffered a graze wound to the head, NBC reported.

“We should all be grateful for the daily self-sacrifice of our law enforcement community as well as the perseverance and professionalism of those who worked to bring yesterday’s standoff to an end without loss of life or further violence,” Chaput noted.

The standoff came less than two weeks after mass shootings left 31 people dead in an El Paso Walmart and Dayton, Ohio bar the weekend of August 3-4.

“In reflecting on violent acts in our country a short time ago, I remarked that we’d soon be on to the next crisis—and it unfolded right here in our city,” Chaput said, who added that he watched the news of the standoff unfold with “growing anxiety and sadness” on Wednesday afternoon.

“In the aftermath, let’s pray that God will aid the swift recovery of the injured officers, that He will guide the hand of the medical professionals treating them, and that He will pour His comforting grace upon all those suffering burdens of fear and grief,” Chaput noted.

“Let us resolve each day to treat our brothers and sisters with dignity, charity, and respect. May we all embrace that which is good so that the light of Christ will prevail in a world where evil often rears its head.


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6 Comments

  1. Your article leads me to a number of thoughts.
    1. You must not forget that it is the police who issue firearms licences.
    2 Look at the totally intimidating weapons the two policemen in the photograph are holding.
    3. Whilst six officers were shot, we are naturally grateful that they were not fatal, and it is sadly the duty of the police to have to face such violence in the course of their jobs, which carry a significant risk compared to other types of employment. These men are to be praised for their courage as there are some completely evil people that have to be brought to book in the name of law and order.
    4. Casting aside the irrelevant condition of the constitution, that amendment was made many many years ago and for a completely different purpose. The amendment should simply be squashed by presidential decree. Why can the American people not understand simply accept that this “right” must be removed as it poses now, an enormous risk to social stability and widespread danger to totally innocent people going about their ordinary lives, their jobs, looking after kids and home etc?
    5. Collecting the almost uncountable number of weapons in the hands of untrained people who can legally buy weapons wholly inappropriate to their state in life, for example, why would a lorry driver need sixty rounds per semi automatic weapon with pump-action shotgun ????? Perhaps a pistol if he drives valuable cargo or at night on lonely rads. Where is the type of weapon matched to the lifestyle or need of the individual carrying it?
    6. Collecting weapons could start with immediate illegality of possession by category of weapon but with a hand in an amnesty. Perhaps even a financial inducement for doing so. After that, like it or not, they would have to be seized by force. I recognize this would take a great deal of time and the commitment of many administrations but unless you do something, innocent lives will continue to be lost in perpetuity.
    7. Forgive me for saying so but is this the best speech that Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia can come up with. He should be vociferous and heaping huge condemnation upon this incident, not just ‘try to find better solutions which frankly would probably hardly turn anyone’s head and call it real community leadership. He needs to say more than a mealy-mouthed soft speech. He should heaping condemnation on it and protection and emphasizing the innocent community from the rooftops.

    • The totalitarian authority that your post represents and endorses is the very reason why the Second Amendment to the Constitution is necessary.

  2. “that amendment was made many many years ago and for a completely different purpose.”

    Your opinion, which is a very uninformed one. As evidence:

    “The amendment should simply be squashed by presidential decree.”

    You clearly know absolutely nothing about the American system of government. The Constitution (and its amendments) are the basic law of the land, and can’t be “squashed” by the decree of the president, or anybody else. The Supreme Court, sadly, can misinterpret it (as for example when they found in “emanations” and “penumbras” that abortion was legal) but they can’t just dispense with it. There is a procedure for amending the Constitution, but it involves a lot more than just one person saying “Change it – now!”

    “Why can the American people not understand simply accept that this “right” must be removed as it poses now, an enormous risk to social stability and widespread danger to totally innocent people going about their ordinary lives, their jobs, looking after kids and home etc?”

    Because the majority of us don’t agree with you. And it is a right; there is no need for your scare-quotes.

    “Collecting the almost uncountable number of weapons in the hands of untrained people who can legally buy weapons wholly inappropriate to their state in life”

    Inappropriate, as decided by you? Thank you, but I am not really interested in having you decide.

    “for example, why would a lorry driver need sixty rounds per semi automatic weapon with pump-action shotgun ?????”

    America doesn’t have any lorry drivers. We have truck drivers. And he doesn’t have to *need* it. He has a right to own it if he wants it.

    “Perhaps a pistol if he drives valuable cargo or at night on lonely rads.”

    That’s not for you to decide.

  3. Given today’s ‘culture’ expecting people to give up their firearms – law or not – is beyond naive.

    “Like it or not they would have to be seized by force.” So true.

    “The totally intimidating weapons the police in the photograph are holding.” Given the situation – What would you suggest they hold?

    What would you suggest that Archbishop Chaput say? To me his basic message is – let’s all calm down and a few prayers wouldn’t hurt.

  4. Peter
    August 15, 2019 at 10:56 pm .

    Your article leads me to a number of thoughts.
    1. You must not forget that it is the police who issue firearms licences.”
    **********

    Peter,
    It doesn’t work that way in the States. I believe there are interests who would like it to work that way, but as of now you can buy a firearm without obtaining a license.
    Owning a firearm is a right here, not a privilege- like driving a vehicle on public roads. That requires a license.

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