CAMBRIDGE, Wis. — The Oakland-Cambridge Presbyterian church is taking guns and turning them into something that symbolizes growth.
Scott Marrese-Wheeler is the pastor of the church. He says this was a small way his church could help stop gun violence across the country.
“We are a small membership church, but we offer witness in this community,” said Marrese-Wheeler.
On Saturday, the church joined the nationwide Guns-to-Gardens Gun Buyback event. Multiple people dismantled unwanted guns for gun owners who want the assurance their gun will not be used for future harm. The guns will be turned into garden tools.
The church’s pastor says it’s a message that reflects their beliefs.
“Instead of just flooding the market with more guns, to actually take a step in a direction that brings healing a symbol of that a peace.”
This isn’t the first event like this in the area. Back in August, the Dane County Sheriff’s Office collected 577 firearms of various kinds in a similar program.
RELATED: Hundreds of guns collected at Dane County gun buyback event
Though only 6 guns were collected at the Cambridge church, the pastor says every action by his community counts.
“It may have been a small flicker of light, given that we had a small attendance, but it was something shining in the darkness of gun violence in our world that really has cast a pall of darkness over our whole nation.”
For those who aren’t religious… The pastor hopes the message of this event can spread their faith to others.
“We can turn our thoughts and prayers into action, and give people that sense of healing and hope.”
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