- Local every day in
Roswell's Sikh Congregation Responds to Sunday Shooting
Local members of Sikh Educational Welfare Association Gurudwara Sahib on Woodstock Road in Roswell are shocked by the Sunday shooting at a temple in Wisconsin.
The Sikh Educational Welfare Association (SEWA) Gurudwara Sahib congregation in Roswell is thinking and praying for everyone affected by the killing of seven people at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, WI, Sunday.
Parvinder Singh, who handles public relations for SEWA, told Roswell Patch local Sikhs are stunned by the news and can "only hope it was random and not an act of hate."
According to Oak Creek Patch, several people - including a police officer - were shot at the temple Sunday morning. Oak Creek Police said three bodies were found outside the temple and four, including the lone gunman, were inside the building.
"Our heart goes out to all those who were shot and the families of those who died," said Singh. "We sincerely hope and pray that those who've suffered have the god-given strength to go on with their lives."
Singh praised the first-responding police officer who is credited in early reports with deescalating the situation.
"He was brave and and put his life in danger. Without him it would have been much worse. He’s a hero in this incident."
Oak Creek Patch reports that the officer, a 20-year veteran of the Oak Creek department, was in surgery Sunday afternoon.
According to the SEWA website, Sikhism is one of the youngest world religions. Its values are based in universalism, liberalism, humanism and pluralism.
Thanks. We'll email you the next time we update this story.
S L D
8:07 am on Monday, August 6, 2012
The Sikhs I've met are some of the most peaceful people. My heart goes out to the members of the Oak Creek congregation.
Barbara Cerda
10:35 am on Monday, August 6, 2012
On a quiet summer Sunday morn, in the middle of idyllic rural Wisconsin on August 5, 2012, a gunman entered a new Gurudwara. Oak Creek Wisconsin was home to 17,500 square foot Sikh Temple. In the midst of their quiet morning routine of cooking and preparing for the days worship, an unknown gunman entered and began shooting. Random bullets began cutting down worshipers and we’re still wondering why.
Rather we should be wondering when. When we began controlling gun purchasing? When will we began questioning why assault guns are necessary for sale? When will we put the right for humans to live in safety above the rights of a gun “enthusiast”? Most important, when will we throw NRA lobbyist out of Washington or at least take the power away that we’ve granted them.
The innocence that attended that Sikh Temple has been destroyed. The NRA and those that uphold the rule that owning weapons of war is a right are holding America hostage. None of us is safe.