Congregation To Take Stance Against Assault Rifles in Vigil

Congregations from the Bridgehampton and Sag Harbor areas will come together for a Multi-Faith Vigil Against Assault Weapons on Friday morning — one week to the hour of the school shooting in Newtown.

The Rev. Alison Cornish, of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Fork, said she has invited all of the clergy from that area to join her at the American Legion, across the street from Marine Park in Sag Harbor, at 9:30 a.m. 

"As I think is the case for everyone so moved by this horrific event, people want to do something — yes, honor the victims, but this is, as we have been hearing on the news from so many fronts, a possible turning point on the issue of gun safety, or gun control," Cornish said.

Several years ago, her congregation was instrumental in leading the effort to get the Bridgehampton K-Mart to discontinue selling ammunition. "We went on to try the same at the Riverhead K-Mart, but were not successful," she said.

"This event has reminded our membership of the importance of faith communities in raising these questions that are important to the whole community, and to take a moral stand, and to put actions to our thoughts and words," she said. "We know that what happened in Newtown, Connecticut, cannot be prevented simply by reforming the laws around guns — it's so much more than that — but having a single sign at the vigil that says 'ban assault weapons' (which is what we've decided to do) will give our Friday event a future purpose as well as honoring the moment in the way that CT Gov. Daniel Malloy has asked the country to do — to pause, and toll the bell, at 9:30 Friday morning."

Cornish is encouraging people who plan to attend to wear black. 

A community vigil is planned in East Hampton Village, by the memorial set up at the Hook Mill, on Friday at 4:30 p.m.