Americans are increasingly concerned by the ongoing string of mass shootings across the country this year. The latest happened Sunday, August 26, during a video game tournament at The Jacksonville Landing, a mall in Jacksonville, Florida. Police say 24-year-old David Katz of Baltimore, opened fire at the “Madden NFL 19” tournament, killing two and wounding nine others. Katz reportedly killed himself after the shooting.
Jacksonville City Councilman Reggie Gaffney represents that district. He told CBN News he heard about the shooting after leaving a church service and is looking to the faith community for help with the problem.
“I think the faith community has sat back too long and allowed others to dictate what’s going to happen in America,” he said. “I just want to see the churches say, ‘enough is enough,’ and mandate to put prayer back in the schools.”
Gaffney says he believes God is the ultimate solution. “I think this is why you see America’s now falling apart because nobody wants to talk about the real solution and that’s bringing God back in everything we do.”
Florida Gov. Rick Scott shares some of Gaffney’s sentiments. “Every parent has to say to themselves: What can I do better? Our church leaders have to say to themselves, ‘What can we be doing to get people more involved in faith?’ Because when I was growing up, this wasn’t happening. And it’s happening now,” Scott said.