Control of weapons, U.S in the right direction, Fr Lombardi

January 19, 2013: ‘The initiatives announced by the U.S. administration to limit and control the distribution and use of weapons are certainly a step in the right direction’, wrote Father Frederico Lombardi, Director of the Press office of the Holy See, in his weekly editorial on Saturday. It is estimated that Americans possess today about 300 million firearms. No one can pretend that it is sufficient to limit the number and use to prevent future horrific massacres such as Newtown, which has shaken the American consciousness and the world and others, both children and adults. But much worse it would be satisfied with words, reflected Fr Lombardi.

And if the killings are done by people unbalanced or distorted by hatred, there is no doubt that they are made with weapons. 47 religious leaders of different faiths and religions have appealed to U.S. lawmakers to restrict firearms," I'm with them, said the Jesuit Priest and also Director General of Vatican Radio.

While the American company is engaged in this debate, we cannot but to remember that the arms in the world, is an instrument of self-defense, but they are certainly the main tool anywhere to bring threats, violence and death. So you have to repeat tirelessly calls for disarmament, to counter the production, trade, smuggling of weapons of all kinds, fueled by economic interests or unworthy of power.
If results are achieved, Fr Lombardi wrote, such as subscriptions to international conventions, the banning of landmines and other forms of deadly weapons, the huge and disproportionate reduction in the number of nuclear warheads ... they are welcome!

As the Pope said flying to Lebanon, we are all shocked by the massacres in Syria, but weapons continue to get there. Peace comes from the heart, but it will be easier to reach if we have fewer weapons in their hands, Fr Lombardi recalled.