DECATUR, Ga. — A faith-based coalition is bringing together faith leaders, politicians and other stakeholders in an effort to stop gun violence.
At Columbia Presbyterian Church in Decatur, faith leaders held the first of five symposiums aimed at stopping gun violence for good.
"We believe we have to go well beyond thoughts and prayers. It’s time for some action," said Columbia Presbyterian Pastor Tom Hagood.
The gun violence prevention events are the brainchild of Dr. Brenda Smith, who wrote the grant for the program back in January.
"The church, the faith communities want to keep the conversation around gun violence alive and well as we tend to its resolution," Smith said.
Smith and her colleagues said it's going to take an all-hands-on-deck approach to stop what they call a "scourge” of violence. The group plans to host five two-hour sessions through November that will tackle different aspects of gun violence and its impact.
"We’re going to introduce the subject today and then encourage folks to commit to coming back to the other seminars to develop individual or collaborative programs," Hagood said.
Smith said the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School make it clear that symposiums on combatting gun violence are needed more than ever before.
“One more time, four innocent people have been killed. Two of which are children. Nine have been wounded and so we much do something as a church. We must. God is calling us to do something and we will answer the call," Smith said.
The dates for the remaining symposiums are set for Sept. 28, Oct. 12, Oct. 26, and Nov. 16.