JGVPR Statement on Oroville, CA School Shooting
From JWI’s Jewish Gun Violence Prevention Roundtable on December 5, 2024:
We are heartbroken by the tragic school shooting at the Feather River Adventist School in Oroville, California, in which two kindergarten students were critically injured, the 78th reported school shooting this calendar year. Authorities have received information that the school was targeted due to its religious affiliation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, the Seventh Day Adventist community, and all those affected by this devastating event.
The Jewish Gun Violence Prevention Roundtable stands in solidarity with the victims and their families and reaffirms our commitment to disarming hate and advocating for safer schools and stronger gun violence prevention measures. In the wake of this tragedy, we urge our lawmakers and community leaders to:
Disarm hate by prohibiting individuals convicted of a misdemeanor hate crime from possessing, purchasing, or receiving firearms or ammunition.
Enact common-sense gun violence prevention measures, such as universal background checks, waiting periods, safe storage requirements, restrictions on high-capacity magazines, and extreme risk laws to prevent individuals in crisis from accessing firearms.
Invest in early intervention and prevention programs to address the root causes of violence and provide support to at-risk individuals before tragedies occur.
Foster a culture of empathy, inclusion, and mutual respect within our schools and communities to prevent future acts of violence and promote positive relationships among students and peers.
As we pray for healing for the gravely injured students and for the Feather River Adventist School community, let us also draw strength from our shared commitment to creating a safer and more compassionate world for all.
The Jewish Gun Violence Prevention Roundtable (JGVP Roundtable) works to amplify the collective voice of the Jewish community in addressing the pervasive issue of gun violence in the United States. By uniting individuals and organizations already involved in diverse approaches to combatting gun violence, our roundtable aims to strengthen our efforts and drive meaningful change. Guided by our Jewish values, particularly the principle of 'Lo ta'amod al dam re'echa' (Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor), we are compelled to act and intervene in the face of harm. We are further driven by the experiences of being a religious minority disproportionately impacted by hate crimes and alarmed by the epidemic of gun violence that disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable populations. The JGVP Roundtable, representing Jewish organizations across the nation, is committed to forging a future free from gun violence.