We can't stand by as weapons devastate our society

I drove past a church sign this week that read: “Come as you are.” Of course, that open invitation was intended to mean two things: to come wearing whatever you wanted – and to come bringing your entire self.

“As I am” means something different to each of us. For me, it means being both a Jewish woman and a supporter of organizations that strive to curb gun violence.

Getting guns off the streets is impossible; that ship sailed long ago. But I pray that we will wake up to the devastation that is being caused by assault-style rifles and take control of this scourge on our society.

Like you, I am sick of hearing about people shooting other people. It is especially heart-wrenching when the victims are school children and their teachers. Mass shootings must stop. And assault type rifles? Nobody needs military grade weapons. No one.

People have all kinds of hobbies. If shooting guns at targets or hunting is a hobby of yours, that’s fine. Go ahead and do it as much as you like. I may not understand the attraction, but I also don’t understand people who take part in triathlons – or who jump out of helicopters to ski off high mountains. None of these hobbies make any sense to me whatsoever, but I am perfectly happy to let people enjoy themselves.