Times of San Diego - After Chabad Attack, We Must Pass Common-Sense Gun-Safety Reforms

Op-Ed

By Scott Peters

It is with sadness that I write about the horrific attack on Chabad of Poway, a synagogue in our district, on the last day of Passover and the six month anniversary of the horrific shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue.

First, I want to say that I stand in full solidarity with the Jewish-American community in San Diego and across the nation as they grieve this act of hatred and violence. I am thinking and praying for the victims, all those injured in the attack and the entire community. I am also taking action today to ensure that this never happens again.

We've endured far too many mass shootings in recent years. I am tired of our government's failure to pass common-sense legislation to address the epidemic of gun violence.

I know that we have the power to keep weapons of war off our streets and out of the hands of dangerous criminals. As a strong advocate for gun-safety reforms, I have always fought to make these reforms a reality.

We must pass common-sense gun-safety reforms immediately to ensure that not one more life is lost in this fight. It's our responsibility to take action.

I was extremely moved by what Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, who was injured in the attack, had to say yesterday. I'll leave you with his words:

"We need to battle darkness with light. No matter how dark the world is, we need to think of light. A little bit of light pushes away a little darkness. A lot of light pushes away a lot more. No matter what religion you're from…we need to tilt the scale."

I'm taking a lot of light with me to Congress this week.

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