“HOW SAFE ARE THE PEOPLE OF CAPE COD?” 

“HOW SAFE ARE THE PEOPLE OF CAPE COD?” BY Russ Allen

On the afternoon of Sunday, August 6, 2023, with sixty in attendance and another forty livestreaming,  “A Community Conversation: Firearms Violence – How Safe Are We?” was held at the Federated Church of Orleans located in East Orleans. Subtitled “Firearms Violence and Solutions – A Panel Discussion,” the event was sponsored by the Interfaith Justice Committee of the Federated Church and Am HaYam – Cape Cod Havurah. The stated purpose of the Forum was “to look at efforts toward public well-being from three perspectives: Legislative measures (especially in MA); Law enforcement policies and procedures; Ensuring safety for those struggling with mental health.” Its goal was “to Educate, Advocate, and Motivate” in order to “provide a better understanding of this complex, urgent problem and offer suggestions for positive actions.”

The Interfaith Justice Committee of the Federated Church and Am HaYam is a collaborative effort to apply shared faith values to issues of social concern. Its aim is to equip the congregations and the wider community by educating and advocating for those most vulnerable among our neighbors. Such concerns as food insecurity, racial diversity, gun violence and immigration have been addressed in the approximately nine years of the committee’s work.-

The major goal of “A Community Conversation: Firearms Violence - How Safe Are We?” was to   inform and inspire participants regarding efforts to increase the safety of our communities in this era of gun violence. Aspects explored were MA legislative initiatives, local law enforcement efforts, and support for those with mental health concerns.

Following welcoming comments by the Rev. Darren Morgan, Senior Minister of the Federated Church, the Rev. Roderick MacDonald, Co-chair of the Interfaith Justice Committee, introduced the IFC and shared background information on the topic of the afternoon’s discussion, stating that gun violence is “a deep spiritual crisis that calls for a faith response.” He then introduced the Moderator for the Forum, Kathleen Shine-Obrien.

Shine-Obrien is a licensed mental health counselor and an “EMDR-trained” therapist. EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a mental health therapy method that treats mental health conditions that happen because of memories from traumatic events in a person’s past. It is best known for its role in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but its use is expanding to include treatment of many other conditions.

As the Director of Clinical Services for Sharing Kindness Shine-Obrien oversees volunteer training, peer grief support groups, and community grief support and education. In her opening remarks she pointed out that while for many gun violence is equated with mass shootings, defined as events in which three or more persons are killed by firearms, it encompasses any instance in which a gun is used inappropriately to injure or kill a person, including accidental shootings and intentional suicides. After explaining the objective of the afternoon’s Forum, she introduced the three members of the Forum’s Panel.

Dr. Kim Mead-Walters, a board-certified family physician, is the co-founder and Executive Director of Sharing Kindness, which focuses on raising suicide awareness, promoting mental health education, and providing grief support. In her initial comments Mead-Walters discussed the relationship between firearms and suicides, citing that 90% of such acts are fatal. While nationally there are higher rates for both suicides and suicides by firearms, the numbers in Massachusetts are lower mainly due to the Commonwealth’s stricter gun laws.   Nevertheless, there is a higher risk of death by suicide among young people on the Cape. The Massachusetts  counties with the most significant number of self-destructive actions, not necessarily by forearms, are Berkshire, Dukes (Nantucket), and Barnstable (Cape Cod).

In response to these statistics, Mead-Walters recommended that steps be taken to reduce access to “lethal means” by youth and young adults, allow for a period between obtaining a firearm and experiencing a personal crisis, ensure the safe storage of firearms, and make stronger investments in research and preventative programs related to suicide. She cautioned against prejudicially labeling persons with mental health issues as being dangerous and called for policies that are based on scientific data.

Dona Wald is the president of Grandmothers Against Gun Violence, a nonprofit, non-partisan grassroots organization created in 2013 following the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting in Newtown, CT. Focused on gun violence prevention and firearms safety, the organization is popularly known for its sponsorship of demonstrations held regularly at the Hyannis Rotary and other locations around the Cape. However, much of its emphasis is on advocating for strong regulations regarding the availability and ownership of firearms, especially through legislation at the state level.

In her initial statement Wald said that while Massachusetts has the strictest gun control laws of any state, or of the nation as a whole, her group is currently advocating for the passage of “HD4420 - An Act Modernizing Firearms” by the General Court, not only to strengthen existing gun-related laws but to address new and emerging challenges, especially related to “Ghost Guns” made with unregistered parts and firearms produced on 3-D printers which are virtually impossible to trace. The organization’s goal is to ensure the enactment and  enforcement of “comprehensive gun safety laws,” including research-driven proactive measures, tightening registration loopholes, stronger licensing requirements and clarification of the “Red Flag Laws” that allow for appeals to a court for the temporary removal of firearms in the possession of persons considered to be threats to themselves, others, or society. Wald urged those attending to contact their State Senator or Representative and express support for HD4420 which is expected to be considered in the fall.

Chief Scott MacDonald has served the community of Orleans for the past twenty-four years, starting as a Patrolman in 1999 and being promoted to Chief in 2012. As the person mainly responsible for licensing gun owners living in the Town of Orleans, MacDonald walked those attending the Forum through the comprehensive steps involved in obtaining the necessary permit, a process that also involves the state and can take more than 90 days to complete.

While he believes the residents who have received licenses are responsible gun owners, MacDonald stated that the current laws need to be strengthened, especially to limit access to firearms not appropriate for personal ownership, clarify the purpose of the “Red Flag Laws,” and be ready to address future issues such as those mentioned by Wald. He warned of the danger in “open carry laws” and affirmed the value of creating “restrictive spaces” where persons may not possess or carry a gun.

Following opening statements by the three Forum Panel members, questions were solicited from members of the audience, which after being screened by members of the IJC were posed by the Moderator. During that time Chief MacDonald was asked why people sought to be licensed to own a firearm, which is part of the information sought during the application process.  He responded that the reason he most often hears is “Because I am afraid,” followed by “Government Overreach.”

At the close of the program the members of the Forum were asked what the next steps should be in terms of the Forum’s triple focus: Educate, Advocate, Motivate. Dr. Kim Mead-Walters replied “QPR: Question, Persuade, Refer” when responding to incidents that may involve mental health related firearm violence issues. Dona Wald encouraged advocating for passage of HD4022. Chief Scott MacDonald called for “Respectful Dialogue with the Goals of Reaching a Compromise.” In a private conversation afterwards, he added that such a step needed to include responsible gun owners.

The Interfaith Justice Committee will be considering whether to sponsor another forum on the same topic, possibly including persons representing educational institutions, religious perspectives, and responsible gun ownership.   

-- Published on Thursday, August 23, 2023, in The Cape Cod Chronicle,