Washington, March 29. Members of the Sikh community joined President Barack Obama as he sought to spur lawmakers into action against gun violence in the wake of tragedies like the Newtown massacre in December that killed 20 first-graders.
“We need everybody to remember how we felt 100 days ago and make sure that what we said at that time wasn’t just a bunch of platitudes, that we meant it,” Obama said at a White House event on National Day of Action by supporters of tougher gun laws.
“We’ve cried enough and it is time now for Americans to pressure their elected leaders to pass a package of laws proposed by Senate Democrats,” a sombre and angry Obama told the audience, which included family members of Newtown victims.
Also invited were four prominent members of the Sikh community to represent the families of the victims of the gurdwara shootout at Oak Creek, Wisconsin, last August when six worshippers were killed.
Proposals ranging from expanded background checks to tougher laws against gun trafficking and improving safety at schools have been recommended in the aftermath of the Newtown tragedy. But these have all come to naught in the face of fierce opposition led by the influential National Rifle Association and conservative politicians.
Rajwant Singh, chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education (SCORE), who was among the invitees, said in a statement: “People inspired by our faith must work towards making our society safe for all people, and especially for our children.” Prabhjot Singh Kohli, Chairman of Guru Nanak Foundation of America (GNFA), said the Sikh community was “actively supporting the control of guns going in the wrong hands” as it feared more tragedies similar to the one at the Wisconsin gurdwara. (IANS)
