I Don't Like Mondays: America’s Mass Shooting Crisis

Today we turn our attention to the alarming persistence of mass shootings in the United States, which now occur at a level never seen before. We reflect upon recent incidents, causes, and the broad impacts on victims, families, and communities. We question why the USA stands out among all nations as seeing so many tragedies, and why civilian gun ownership in the States constitutes almost half the world total. As always, we suggest guided intentions, prayers, and practical focus areas for collective healing and advocacy.

Intentions and prayers start at 25 minutes.

Suggested Intention Focus for this week

This week, as we take stock of the shocking prevalence of mass shooting events in the US, we suggest holding as our main intention:

We will that educators, community leaders and legislators across all US states will have wisdom to guide policy, advocacy and teaching that will support nonviolence and significantly reduce or eliminate gun violence, while respecting and winning the support of those who continue to strongly advocate for their Second Amendment right to defend themselves.

Please join us in holding this.

Chapter markers:

00:00:00                                       Introduction

00:01:36                                       The Reality of Mass Shootings

00:06:55                                       Why Are Mass Shootings Prevalent in the USA?

00:12:11                                       The Role of Gun Ownership

00:17:01                                       Factors Behind Mass Shootings

00:19:25                                       Impact on Victims and Families

00:22:16                                       Community Responses and Healing

00:24:28                                       Intentions and Prayers

Note: This episode’s title refers to the 1979 Boomtown Rats song ‘I don’t like Mondays,’ about the Cleveland Elementary School shooting in San Diego of the same year.

Sources referenced in this episode:

https://andovernewton.yale.edu/resources/worship-resources-response-recent-mass-shootings

https://apnews.com/article/michigan-church-shooting-gunman-mormons-e607d854e8f198aaaefbf604c6c6f422

https://cofchrist.org/usa-church-news/statement-on-recent-gun-violence/

https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/us-gun-policy-global-comparisons#:~:text=The%20United%20States%2C%20with%20less%20than%205,by%20the%20Switzerland%2Dbased%20Small%20Arms%20Survey%20(2018) (cites the 2018 Small Arms Survey)

https://edition.cnn.com/us/mass-shootings-2025-vs-past-years-dg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mass_shootings_in_the_United_States_in_2025

https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-issues-eight-executive-orders-in-response-to-el-paso-and-odessa-shootings

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gun-control+nra#:~:text=Safety%20groups%20warn%20that%20former,June%202022

https://katv.com/news/nation-world/happening-today-funeral-for-3-fallen-pa-police-officers-northern-york-county-regional-police-detective-cody-becker-mark-baker-isaiah-emenheiser-north-codorus-township-service-procession-burial

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2015/12/4/9850572/gun-control-us-japan-switzerland-uk-canada

https://nationalcouncilofchurches.us/common-witness/ncc-resolution-on-rampant-gun-violence-and-mass-shootings/

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