Sophia Chadda, the Democratic candidate for Township Committee, has urged residents to demand legislators take steps to end the “epidemic” of gun violence in America.

“Sadly, our nation is besieged by homegrown white nationalist terrorism,” she wrote in a statement to this newspaper. “These individuals are fueled by online extremism and armed by greedy special interests and a complacent Congress. We shouldn’t have to fear leaving our homes to shop, to worship, or to learn.

“This must stop. Just as we take strong measures to protect ourselves from foreign terrorist threats, we should also take equally strong measures to protect our homeland from homegrown terrorism.”

Chadda said that while campaigning recently, she spoke to a resident who said she would only vote for President Donald Trump “because we are a white Christian nation.”
“First, regardless of one’s political affiliation, gun violence should be abhorred by all and we should demand our legislators do something to stop the epidemic,” Chadda said.

“Second, America is not a nation of any specific religion; America is comprised of a tapestry of all religious faiths as well as those who choose not to practice any religion at all. We are better for living in harmony with our Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and atheist brothers and sisters and being exposed to the wonderful diversity of cultures. Freedom of religion means freely practicing your religious beliefs, not demanding others to forfeit theirs in favor of yours.

“Third, our country is not a white country, just as it is not a black, brown, green, blue, or purple country,” she added. “It is a country of a single race: the human race. My heart is with the people of Gilroy, El Paso, Dayton, and all those affected by senseless gun violence. My conscience drives me to do something about it so that nobody’s loved ones are taken from them by mass shootings in the future.

“Expressions of thoughts and prayers are wonderful and very much appreciated, but we now also need to act through legislation and safety education in our community, our state, and at the national level,” she concluded. “Please join me in helping drive this change.”