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When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough: A Shooting Survivor's Journey into the Realities of Gun Violence
Taylor Schumann never thought she'd be a victim of gun violence. But one spring day a man with a shotgun walked into her workplace and opened fire on her. While she survived, she was left with permanent wounds, both visible and invisible.
In When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough, Taylor invites us to see what it means to be a survivor after the news vehicles drive away and the media moves on. Healing is slow and complicated. As she suffered through surgeries, grueling rehabilitation, and counseling to repair the physical injuries and emotional trauma, she came face-to-face with the deep and lasting impact of gun violence. As she began grappling with the realities, Taylor experienced another painful Christians have largely been absent from this issue. Gun violence undercuts God's vision of abundant life and community - and the silence of the church rings loudly in the ears of survivors and families of victims.
Taylor weaves her own incredible story of survival and recovery into a larger conversation about gun violence in our country. With compassion and honesty, she encourages listeners to reconsider their own engagement with the issue and to join her in envisioning a more hopeful, safer future for our nation. Move beyond thoughts and prayers and enter into grace-filled dialogue and action.
In When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough, Taylor invites us to see what it means to be a survivor after the news vehicles drive away and the media moves on. Healing is slow and complicated. As she suffered through surgeries, grueling rehabilitation, and counseling to repair the physical injuries and emotional trauma, she came face-to-face with the deep and lasting impact of gun violence. As she began grappling with the realities, Taylor experienced another painful Christians have largely been absent from this issue. Gun violence undercuts God's vision of abundant life and community - and the silence of the church rings loudly in the ears of survivors and families of victims.
Taylor weaves her own incredible story of survival and recovery into a larger conversation about gun violence in our country. With compassion and honesty, she encourages listeners to reconsider their own engagement with the issue and to join her in envisioning a more hopeful, safer future for our nation. Move beyond thoughts and prayers and enter into grace-filled dialogue and action.
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First published July 20, 2021
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About the author
Taylor S. Schumann
2 books76 followersTaylor Schumann has always been a writer, but it was a spring day in 2013 that made her an activist. The bullet that tore through her left hand on an otherwise average afternoon at New River Community College in Christiansburg, Virginia, redefined the trajectory of the written word for Taylor, assigning mission to her talent and essential, urgent purpose to her page. In the split-second moment of the shooting, and the long work of healing and trauma recovery that followed, her beliefs about gun reform, thoughts and prayers, and the role of the church in our nation’s historic and future violence were irreversibly altered. Alive in the gratitude of the aftermath, she writes the truth of her own story, and the stories of the countless precious lives affected daily by the crisis of gun violence, to implore us to meet the suffering around us with our whole-hearted attention. She writes to ask, simply, that we resist the impulse to look away.
As the mother of a young son, Henry, Taylor seeks to hold the American Christian church accountable to its pro-life claims. At home in Charleston, South Carolina, and across the nation, she’s witnessed the entrenchment of church and gun culture, and the apparent moral disconnect wreaking havoc on our ability to effect positive change. It is her hope that this story will be the place we join hands and ignite in passionate advocacy to create a better future for Henry and the rest of our children. It is her desire to write our swords into plowshares, our apathy into action, and the distance between us into common ground.
As the mother of a young son, Henry, Taylor seeks to hold the American Christian church accountable to its pro-life claims. At home in Charleston, South Carolina, and across the nation, she’s witnessed the entrenchment of church and gun culture, and the apparent moral disconnect wreaking havoc on our ability to effect positive change. It is her hope that this story will be the place we join hands and ignite in passionate advocacy to create a better future for Henry and the rest of our children. It is her desire to write our swords into plowshares, our apathy into action, and the distance between us into common ground.
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April 10, 2021
For such a polarizing topic, it strikes me that the first words I think of after reading the final page of "When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough" are: vulnerable, honest, well-researched, gracious.
Will every reader bring their own thoughts, opinions, and beliefs to this book? Absolutely. Will some read exactly what they pre-plan to read into this book? Sure. What I found in Taylor Schumann's words, though, is not an author who desires to convince all readers to think/believe just like her, but one who shares her story (bravely, I would add, as I must imagine it's difficult to relive in order to tell) and seeks to provide a compilation of research so that *the reader* can think/believe for themselves.
Perhaps one of the greatest compliments I can give a book is that it truly made me think. This title does that, so much so that I found myself setting the book down a few times and returning to it days later. The story is compelling, but because the subject matter is heavy, it may require time to process and consider. I would strongly urge readers to read until the very end, even if a break is needed, as I found each chapter to be necessary in the telling of the entire manuscript.
The first half of "When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough" focuses on Taylor's experience with gun violence (please note the trauma warning below). Somehow, Taylor is removed enough to offer perspective, while still close enough to the shooting for her words to be raw and vulnerable. This is a difficult balance to strike for any writer, and I applaud her for doing so.
The second half of the book focuses on different aspects of gun violence. There are hundreds of notes at the back of the book from Taylor's research, so I'll let that speak for itself, and will simply say that it strikes me that Taylor never suggests getting rid of guns. I'd imagine that her biggest critiques will be those who try to attack her position on gun reform, or perhaps say that she shows bias throughout the book. While I'll give that she does share her opinion (which she is entitled to do in her own book about gun violence, particularly as someone who deals every day with the reality of being a shooting survivor), the main point that I gathered is a wrestling with the question of "how can we prevent gun violence?" Not "how can we get rid of guns?". In other words, Taylor comes across to me as someone who desperately wants those who have guns to use them wisely and safely.
Toward the end of the book, Taylor gives several specific ways, all based on research, that America could lower the rate of gun violence. Not get rid of guns, not take guns away from everyone who has one or more, not quit making and selling guns -- but measures/steps that could be taken to lower the rate of suicides, help prevent children from firing a loaded gun that they thought to be a toy, etc. She also speaks directly to Christians, and though she doesn't write in a way that pushes her faith (in my opinion), I found this section to be moving.
It's a heavy topic and therefore a difficult read, but in summary, I would say that "When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough" is compelling, not condemning.
4.5/5 stars. (I was provided an ARC and there are a dozen typos/misspelled words as well as a repeated story. I assume this will be caught before it goes to print, in which case I would say 5/5.)
Trauma warning: For those who have personally experienced gun violence, this may be a comfort ("I'm not alone" etc). It might, however, be too much. I did not personally find the re-telling to be too graphic or detailed, but it is not a light or easy read. If I had experienced something similar, this might be a book I'd need to skip entirely or set aside for later.
Will every reader bring their own thoughts, opinions, and beliefs to this book? Absolutely. Will some read exactly what they pre-plan to read into this book? Sure. What I found in Taylor Schumann's words, though, is not an author who desires to convince all readers to think/believe just like her, but one who shares her story (bravely, I would add, as I must imagine it's difficult to relive in order to tell) and seeks to provide a compilation of research so that *the reader* can think/believe for themselves.
Perhaps one of the greatest compliments I can give a book is that it truly made me think. This title does that, so much so that I found myself setting the book down a few times and returning to it days later. The story is compelling, but because the subject matter is heavy, it may require time to process and consider. I would strongly urge readers to read until the very end, even if a break is needed, as I found each chapter to be necessary in the telling of the entire manuscript.
The first half of "When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough" focuses on Taylor's experience with gun violence (please note the trauma warning below). Somehow, Taylor is removed enough to offer perspective, while still close enough to the shooting for her words to be raw and vulnerable. This is a difficult balance to strike for any writer, and I applaud her for doing so.
The second half of the book focuses on different aspects of gun violence. There are hundreds of notes at the back of the book from Taylor's research, so I'll let that speak for itself, and will simply say that it strikes me that Taylor never suggests getting rid of guns. I'd imagine that her biggest critiques will be those who try to attack her position on gun reform, or perhaps say that she shows bias throughout the book. While I'll give that she does share her opinion (which she is entitled to do in her own book about gun violence, particularly as someone who deals every day with the reality of being a shooting survivor), the main point that I gathered is a wrestling with the question of "how can we prevent gun violence?" Not "how can we get rid of guns?". In other words, Taylor comes across to me as someone who desperately wants those who have guns to use them wisely and safely.
Toward the end of the book, Taylor gives several specific ways, all based on research, that America could lower the rate of gun violence. Not get rid of guns, not take guns away from everyone who has one or more, not quit making and selling guns -- but measures/steps that could be taken to lower the rate of suicides, help prevent children from firing a loaded gun that they thought to be a toy, etc. She also speaks directly to Christians, and though she doesn't write in a way that pushes her faith (in my opinion), I found this section to be moving.
It's a heavy topic and therefore a difficult read, but in summary, I would say that "When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough" is compelling, not condemning.
4.5/5 stars. (I was provided an ARC and there are a dozen typos/misspelled words as well as a repeated story. I assume this will be caught before it goes to print, in which case I would say 5/5.)
Trauma warning: For those who have personally experienced gun violence, this may be a comfort ("I'm not alone" etc). It might, however, be too much. I did not personally find the re-telling to be too graphic or detailed, but it is not a light or easy read. If I had experienced something similar, this might be a book I'd need to skip entirely or set aside for later.
September 26, 2025
Quote
I am intimately acquainted with the horror and suffering guns inflict, and even more intimately acquainted with the goodness of God. Nothing in me knows how to make these two things fit together.
Unquote p. 189
I am intimately acquainted with the horror and suffering guns inflict, and even more intimately acquainted with the goodness of God. Nothing in me knows how to make these two things fit together.
Unquote p. 189
February 22, 2021
I have gun-related secondary PTSD following the shooting death of a student of mine and I worried I wouldn't be able to make it through reading this book, as much as I wanted to. However, Schumann treats possible triggers with grace and generosity; as someone who is living through those triggers herself, she understands what readers could be going through as they take in her story. I learned so much about PTSD and grief from the first half of the book in which she shares her particular journey. The second half is more broad and explores how to have productive conversations about gun control. I grew up in a very conservative (both politically and religiously), gun-owning family, and appreciate the author's prompts to continue to approach such a fraught topic with both boundaries and kindness. Highly recommended.
*I received an electronic ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
*I received an electronic ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
May 30, 2022
A book that I find myself having some disagreements with and a disconnect due to the religious aspects, but one I think is really well done and would be maybe a perfect book to recommend to others. Not a book with all the solution, but one that should be read in order to at least start conversations with the most ardent of gun enthusiasts (that are very often both conservative and religious).
June 28, 2022
While I thought this book was excellent overall, I think it could use some additional editing to clarify the messaging.
August 31, 2021
This book definitely taught me alot and made me question, do we actually have efficient gun laws in place. This is told by the survivor of a gun shooting, and the way she tells the story is absolutely amazing and will give you chills. I cannot imagine being shot, almost losing my life 6 weeks before my wedding, and spending years having to go through physical therapy, just to still not use your arm and hand. She tells us how she can't even go into a movie theater or do daily tasks without wondering if there is a shooter on the premises, and she teaches us exactly what gun laws could be fixed. I learned a lot from this book and highly recommend to everyone to read. It is a Christian book, so be prepared for faith and Bible verses. (however, this is a not a conservative book)
January 9, 2024
When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough is an eloquent yet accessible look into the realities of gun violence in America.
The first half of the book is Taylor’s story. It’s raw and real and vulnerable. She describes the shooting and the aftermath of what we don’t see when we turn off the news and shake our heads at yet another report of gun violence in our country. Taylor shares her physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual struggles and triumphs in the aftermath of the shooting she experienced. I felt like I was having an intimate conversation with a friend but one that was still difficult to have.
The second half of the book is a look into different aspects of gun violence and suggestions of reforms to combat it. Taylor gives us research, analysis, and concrete ways to help to prevent gun violence. She never calls for getting rid of guns but calls for those who own guns to obtain, store, and use them wisely and safely. Her research speaks for itself in this section and though she offers many statistics and studies, I did not feel bogged down by the numbers but moved to learn more and do more after reading.
Taylor urges Christians specifically throughout the book but really hits home in the last chapter and Epilogue. Several times, she addresses her belief in prayer; in its power and importance – and she highlights that Christians are not only called to pray but to do. Taylor also addresses the entanglement of “God and guns” in the American church and firmly but chillingly states, “We’ve desperately tried for decades to hold a Bible in one hand and a gun in the other and we have no hands left to serve each other, or Jesus” (p. 203). That one stuck with me.
I know where I stand on the issue of gun reform and gun control. I differ from many of my friends, family and acquaintances both within the Church and without. I hate to say that as I sat down to read this book, I expected to have no internal pushback. But that didn’t happen. Taylor reminds readers that it isn’t a one-time argument or discussion and that we aren’t to be keyboard warriors, as I have done so many times before, but instead to have conscious and constant conversation online and in person about every aspect of gun violence, gun ownership, and the deep hurt that can occur every time a gun goes off.
I think When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough is a book that anyone can and everyone should read. Taylor makes it accessible to read alone or together by including discussion questions (at the end of the book) for each section and by including footnotes of her research, gives a jumping off point for readers to research further. It is not an easy read; the content is serious and weighty. It’s an important read and I hope someone else’s mind can be changed or heart can be softened, even in a small way, by reading this book.
The first half of the book is Taylor’s story. It’s raw and real and vulnerable. She describes the shooting and the aftermath of what we don’t see when we turn off the news and shake our heads at yet another report of gun violence in our country. Taylor shares her physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual struggles and triumphs in the aftermath of the shooting she experienced. I felt like I was having an intimate conversation with a friend but one that was still difficult to have.
The second half of the book is a look into different aspects of gun violence and suggestions of reforms to combat it. Taylor gives us research, analysis, and concrete ways to help to prevent gun violence. She never calls for getting rid of guns but calls for those who own guns to obtain, store, and use them wisely and safely. Her research speaks for itself in this section and though she offers many statistics and studies, I did not feel bogged down by the numbers but moved to learn more and do more after reading.
Taylor urges Christians specifically throughout the book but really hits home in the last chapter and Epilogue. Several times, she addresses her belief in prayer; in its power and importance – and she highlights that Christians are not only called to pray but to do. Taylor also addresses the entanglement of “God and guns” in the American church and firmly but chillingly states, “We’ve desperately tried for decades to hold a Bible in one hand and a gun in the other and we have no hands left to serve each other, or Jesus” (p. 203). That one stuck with me.
I know where I stand on the issue of gun reform and gun control. I differ from many of my friends, family and acquaintances both within the Church and without. I hate to say that as I sat down to read this book, I expected to have no internal pushback. But that didn’t happen. Taylor reminds readers that it isn’t a one-time argument or discussion and that we aren’t to be keyboard warriors, as I have done so many times before, but instead to have conscious and constant conversation online and in person about every aspect of gun violence, gun ownership, and the deep hurt that can occur every time a gun goes off.
I think When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough is a book that anyone can and everyone should read. Taylor makes it accessible to read alone or together by including discussion questions (at the end of the book) for each section and by including footnotes of her research, gives a jumping off point for readers to research further. It is not an easy read; the content is serious and weighty. It’s an important read and I hope someone else’s mind can be changed or heart can be softened, even in a small way, by reading this book.
November 3, 2021
I'm so grateful Taylor wrote this book. It's challenging, wise, and compassionate. She balances her own story as a shooting survivor with practical suggestions on how to reform gun laws in the United States and makes a compelling case. We need to read works that challenge our paradigms, especially when they're written in a way that is merciful toward those who disagree. Taylor has done just that with When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough, and I anticipate recommending it far and wide.
September 20, 2021
I have followed Taylor Schumann on IG and read her blog long before this book came out, so I already was aware of her story. But it is so well-written and has a WEALTH of information on gun safety and reform. I highly recommend reading this book ASAP!
March 20, 2022
“Thinking about things is good, praying about things is good, but those aren’t where we end. That’s where we start.”
Realized I never have read anything from a survivor of gun violence-only analyses of the shooters. Her openness about her struggles with ptsd and how addictive pain meds are an important reminder of how poignantly mental health can impact our entire lives. There were some parts that were repetitive but she offers a compelling perspective on suffering and finding God in the pain. She had some very poignant opinions but offered them with grace. I appreciated her challenge to Christian to ask themselves, am I living for my 2nd amendment rights more than I am living out the gospel? A key question in an era where "guns and God" is apparently a thing.
I also appreciated how she didn't rail on gun owners moral character or defamate them in any way. She offered a kind a loving opinion and beliefs without putting others down. There were a few things I didn't necessarily agree on. But, as a whole, this book opened my eyes to the layers of gun reform and certain laws can (and should) be passed to promote gun safety.
Its overwhelmingly saddens me that America has more guns per capita than any other developed country and we also have the highest rate of mass shooting.
a summary of gun control changes needed:
The boyfriend loophole: prohibit guns and ammunition purchases for those who have had a violent misdemeanor against a dating partner (not just married or cohabitation)
The Charleston loophole: prohibit gun and ammunition purchases for those who want to purchase and their background check takes more than 3 business days to be returned (currently if it takes longer than 3 business days the seller can sell the gun without it if they wish)
The stalking loophole: prohibit gun and ammunition purchases for those who have been convicted of stalking (regions with these laws in place have seen a 16% decrease in violent domestic disputes)
Require businesses selling guns to notify law enforcement when someone attempts to purchase a gun when they are prohibited
Victims of abuse also need notifications if their abusers attempt to buy a gun
All individuals convicted of violent domestic disputes should be required to turn in all their guns (cities with these policies saw a 25% decrease in domestic homicides)-police depts need procedures for procuring these guns-some states allow abuser to call and sell guns or give them to licensed gun dealer
Universal background check laws required
Update records for domestic violence convictions
Safe storage laws are essentials especially child access prevention
License to purchase laws decrease death by suicide by 16% in some states
Red flag laws-ability for law enforcement or family members to petition to have guns removed when person is deemed unsafe
Christian magazine recommendation-author is survivor of school shooting in Virginia
She mentioned some intriguing myths to start conversations about gun violence:
criminals don't follow the law:it isn't that criminals don't follow the law, its that weak laws don't deter them. (e.g. if someone isn't of age to buy a gun on one state, he/she can go to another state with weaker laws and obtain it)
we can't stop criminals from buying guns off the street-this is a difficult thing to do for sure.80% of crimansl say they obtained their weapons from a friend or street source. the flow of the guns into the illegal market is the problem. the best way to keep illegal guns off the street is to create regulations for transactions and the supply chain. by lowering the supply and increasing the cost of guns on the black market, we can make transactions harder and more expensive to complete (most illegal guns get in circulation after having been stolen...b/c of ATF regulations we have no effective way of monitoring and tracing gun thefts)
If I have to lock up my gun, I won't be able to use it to defend myself quickly-the reality is there are plenty of options that can be opened within seconds
Keeping a gun at home makes you safer-for every time a gun is used in self defense in a home, there are 7 assults or murders and 11 suicide attempts and 4 accidents involving guns. research shows having a gun in the home makes you much more likely to be killed by a friend or family member
keeping a gun for self-defense makes you safer-people are taught to be more afraid of someone entering their house with a gun instead of being afraid of the gun in their home. the odds of an intruder entering their home is extremely low.
If more people were armed, our country would be safer-if more guns made us safer, the US would be the safest country on earth. instead, the opposite is true.
She offered an interesting pacifistic view at the end (talking with a friend about if she was scared if someone broke in and was going to kill her family) "my people know Jesus. We know where we are headed. I don't know anything about that burglar. and i just don't think there is anything in my house, including my people, that is worth another human being's eternity.'
This was an interesting thought to ponder. The related question being: if I know where I am going, can I die in peace? Yes. Given this, if I am given the choice to stand up against evil do I do it? No. I took this further and tried to apply it to mass shootings. If you had some ability to stop a shooter to protect any number of victims, would you stop because you didn't know the shooter's eternity? What about the victims' eternity?
This didn't sit well with me. With this logic, seemingly if you know where you are going why not sit by and allow any number of things happen to you? I can't settle with that. I am with Bonhoeffer and Elie Wiesel (and a number of others) who said: "silence in the face of evil is evil itself." I don't think that is what we are called to. Of course, it is hard to truly know what one would do in a desperate life/death situation, and I can only pray God himself would intervene to find the courage to do what is right.
taylors website: https://www.taylorschumann.com/
Realized I never have read anything from a survivor of gun violence-only analyses of the shooters. Her openness about her struggles with ptsd and how addictive pain meds are an important reminder of how poignantly mental health can impact our entire lives. There were some parts that were repetitive but she offers a compelling perspective on suffering and finding God in the pain. She had some very poignant opinions but offered them with grace. I appreciated her challenge to Christian to ask themselves, am I living for my 2nd amendment rights more than I am living out the gospel? A key question in an era where "guns and God" is apparently a thing.
I also appreciated how she didn't rail on gun owners moral character or defamate them in any way. She offered a kind a loving opinion and beliefs without putting others down. There were a few things I didn't necessarily agree on. But, as a whole, this book opened my eyes to the layers of gun reform and certain laws can (and should) be passed to promote gun safety.
Its overwhelmingly saddens me that America has more guns per capita than any other developed country and we also have the highest rate of mass shooting.
a summary of gun control changes needed:
The boyfriend loophole: prohibit guns and ammunition purchases for those who have had a violent misdemeanor against a dating partner (not just married or cohabitation)
The Charleston loophole: prohibit gun and ammunition purchases for those who want to purchase and their background check takes more than 3 business days to be returned (currently if it takes longer than 3 business days the seller can sell the gun without it if they wish)
The stalking loophole: prohibit gun and ammunition purchases for those who have been convicted of stalking (regions with these laws in place have seen a 16% decrease in violent domestic disputes)
Require businesses selling guns to notify law enforcement when someone attempts to purchase a gun when they are prohibited
Victims of abuse also need notifications if their abusers attempt to buy a gun
All individuals convicted of violent domestic disputes should be required to turn in all their guns (cities with these policies saw a 25% decrease in domestic homicides)-police depts need procedures for procuring these guns-some states allow abuser to call and sell guns or give them to licensed gun dealer
Universal background check laws required
Update records for domestic violence convictions
Safe storage laws are essentials especially child access prevention
License to purchase laws decrease death by suicide by 16% in some states
Red flag laws-ability for law enforcement or family members to petition to have guns removed when person is deemed unsafe
Christian magazine recommendation-author is survivor of school shooting in Virginia
She mentioned some intriguing myths to start conversations about gun violence:
criminals don't follow the law:it isn't that criminals don't follow the law, its that weak laws don't deter them. (e.g. if someone isn't of age to buy a gun on one state, he/she can go to another state with weaker laws and obtain it)
we can't stop criminals from buying guns off the street-this is a difficult thing to do for sure.80% of crimansl say they obtained their weapons from a friend or street source. the flow of the guns into the illegal market is the problem. the best way to keep illegal guns off the street is to create regulations for transactions and the supply chain. by lowering the supply and increasing the cost of guns on the black market, we can make transactions harder and more expensive to complete (most illegal guns get in circulation after having been stolen...b/c of ATF regulations we have no effective way of monitoring and tracing gun thefts)
If I have to lock up my gun, I won't be able to use it to defend myself quickly-the reality is there are plenty of options that can be opened within seconds
Keeping a gun at home makes you safer-for every time a gun is used in self defense in a home, there are 7 assults or murders and 11 suicide attempts and 4 accidents involving guns. research shows having a gun in the home makes you much more likely to be killed by a friend or family member
keeping a gun for self-defense makes you safer-people are taught to be more afraid of someone entering their house with a gun instead of being afraid of the gun in their home. the odds of an intruder entering their home is extremely low.
If more people were armed, our country would be safer-if more guns made us safer, the US would be the safest country on earth. instead, the opposite is true.
She offered an interesting pacifistic view at the end (talking with a friend about if she was scared if someone broke in and was going to kill her family) "my people know Jesus. We know where we are headed. I don't know anything about that burglar. and i just don't think there is anything in my house, including my people, that is worth another human being's eternity.'
This was an interesting thought to ponder. The related question being: if I know where I am going, can I die in peace? Yes. Given this, if I am given the choice to stand up against evil do I do it? No. I took this further and tried to apply it to mass shootings. If you had some ability to stop a shooter to protect any number of victims, would you stop because you didn't know the shooter's eternity? What about the victims' eternity?
This didn't sit well with me. With this logic, seemingly if you know where you are going why not sit by and allow any number of things happen to you? I can't settle with that. I am with Bonhoeffer and Elie Wiesel (and a number of others) who said: "silence in the face of evil is evil itself." I don't think that is what we are called to. Of course, it is hard to truly know what one would do in a desperate life/death situation, and I can only pray God himself would intervene to find the courage to do what is right.
taylors website: https://www.taylorschumann.com/
August 26, 2022
Did you know that there’s a federal law that allows gun dealers to allow people to purchase guns by *default* if their background checks don’t come back after three days? I didn’t! I was already pro gun reform but truly had no idea all of the loopholes that allow people to buy guns- it’s insane. Taylor vulnerably shares her story being a shooting survivor in the first half and the second half is extremely informative. I appreciated the whole thing, but especially appreciated how she talked about the intersection of gun violence with both domestic violence and racism. Taylor is Godly, gracious, wise, and humble throughout the entire book.
October 8, 2021
On April 12, 2013, Taylor Schumann found herself hiding in a supply closet and clutching her blown-apart hand as a young man carried out a shooting at the college where she worked. Over the next days, weeks, months, and years, Schumann - a Christian and once a staunch 2nd Amendment advocate - finds her views and faith shifting as she grapples with her own injuries and begins researching America's epidemic of gun violence.
When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough is split into two sections. The first part recounts Schumann's harrowing ordeal, her long road to recovery, and her struggles with PTSD in the wake of the shooting. This section by far is the superior part of the book. In the second part, Schumann shifts into policy mode and explores the gun violence in America from various angles and recommends various "fixes" to help deal with this national crisis. There's a lot of really great information in here, and I applaud Schumann for offering practical solutions to the issues she raises.
Here's the deal: I probably agree with Schumann on about 99.9% of her stances on common-sense gun reform. My reasoning for giving this book three stars probably comes down to the fact that I listened to this book as an audiobook. Large portions of the second half of When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough sounded like I was being read to from a Wikipedia article for extended periods of time. The raw voice and tone that made the memoir-portion of the book so engaging largely disappears in favor of a statistic-heavy info dumps - which, while I appreciate the commitment to research, doesn't make for the most compelling listening experience.
And while Schumann does a good job of connecting her Christian faith to her gun reform advocacy, I would've preferred to have a chapter that tackles some of the specific Bible verses and passages Christians routinely trot out to defend their right to own guns (and look the other way every time a mass shooting occurs). Overall, I think When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough is a good introduction to Christian nonviolence and common-sense gun reform - just make sure you pick up a hard copy rather than listening to it on your commute.
3.5/4 Stars
When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough is split into two sections. The first part recounts Schumann's harrowing ordeal, her long road to recovery, and her struggles with PTSD in the wake of the shooting. This section by far is the superior part of the book. In the second part, Schumann shifts into policy mode and explores the gun violence in America from various angles and recommends various "fixes" to help deal with this national crisis. There's a lot of really great information in here, and I applaud Schumann for offering practical solutions to the issues she raises.
Here's the deal: I probably agree with Schumann on about 99.9% of her stances on common-sense gun reform. My reasoning for giving this book three stars probably comes down to the fact that I listened to this book as an audiobook. Large portions of the second half of When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough sounded like I was being read to from a Wikipedia article for extended periods of time. The raw voice and tone that made the memoir-portion of the book so engaging largely disappears in favor of a statistic-heavy info dumps - which, while I appreciate the commitment to research, doesn't make for the most compelling listening experience.
And while Schumann does a good job of connecting her Christian faith to her gun reform advocacy, I would've preferred to have a chapter that tackles some of the specific Bible verses and passages Christians routinely trot out to defend their right to own guns (and look the other way every time a mass shooting occurs). Overall, I think When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough is a good introduction to Christian nonviolence and common-sense gun reform - just make sure you pick up a hard copy rather than listening to it on your commute.
3.5/4 Stars
July 20, 2021
I care deeply about gun violence in our country. I grieve and get angry every time there is another shooting in the news, or when my students experience anxiety and fear each time they do a lockdown drill in the classroom. I have followed Taylor on Instagram for awhile, and always appreciated her measured and clear take on gun reform, so when I saw that she was writing a book about her experience with gun violence, I preordered immediately, and then joined the launch team so I could read the book early and help promote it. (I received an ARC from the publisher but purchased a finished copy.)
The book is part memoir, part practical guide. Taylor was a victim of a college shooting, and tells her story with candor and vulnerability. I’ve often wondered about the trauma that has to come with surviving a shooting, but I’ve never heard someone tell their story so completely. Taylor’s story is devastating and hopeful, gutting and encouraging. She tells of what happened to her, and how she slowly learned about the realities of gun violence, and then slowly began to advocate for gun reform. But don’t let me lose you there. Taylor never says she wants to take all of your guns away. Instead, she presents practical reforms that could absolutely lower rates of gun violence in our country, and reforms that most Americans would likely support if they took the time to learn about them. Please, take the time to learn about them. We don’t have to accept gun violence as a part of what it means to exist in America. We don’t have to throw up our hands each time a shooting happens and say, “well, that’s terrible but there’s just nothing that can be done.” Something can be done, and Taylor specifically calls on Christians to do something.
“I want to end gun violence. I want no one else to have to suffer as a result of this horrific crisis. But what I want even more than that, is for Christians to take up their place in this fight. I want them to finally open their eyes to this injustice all around them, and to show the world we are here and we care and we will work to protect each other.”
The book is part memoir, part practical guide. Taylor was a victim of a college shooting, and tells her story with candor and vulnerability. I’ve often wondered about the trauma that has to come with surviving a shooting, but I’ve never heard someone tell their story so completely. Taylor’s story is devastating and hopeful, gutting and encouraging. She tells of what happened to her, and how she slowly learned about the realities of gun violence, and then slowly began to advocate for gun reform. But don’t let me lose you there. Taylor never says she wants to take all of your guns away. Instead, she presents practical reforms that could absolutely lower rates of gun violence in our country, and reforms that most Americans would likely support if they took the time to learn about them. Please, take the time to learn about them. We don’t have to accept gun violence as a part of what it means to exist in America. We don’t have to throw up our hands each time a shooting happens and say, “well, that’s terrible but there’s just nothing that can be done.” Something can be done, and Taylor specifically calls on Christians to do something.
“I want to end gun violence. I want no one else to have to suffer as a result of this horrific crisis. But what I want even more than that, is for Christians to take up their place in this fight. I want them to finally open their eyes to this injustice all around them, and to show the world we are here and we care and we will work to protect each other.”
November 2, 2021
I really enjoyed this. I liked the first half better -- Taylor's description of the shooting at the college where she worked, and how the aftermath affected her mental health and faith. The second half was "preaching to the choir" for me, as she lays out the needs for gun control.
But I hope that her voice will reach people who are not a fan of gun control! And I greatly appreciated how she clearly expressed her privilege, in that she never thought about gun control before she herself became a mass shooting survivor.
But I hope that her voice will reach people who are not a fan of gun control! And I greatly appreciated how she clearly expressed her privilege, in that she never thought about gun control before she herself became a mass shooting survivor.
July 31, 2021
This book is an insightful look at what one survivors opinion on gun reform. This is an issue that affects everyone. She used a plethora of research to back some of her conclusions. However, she does not take into account that legally the 2nd amendment is one of the major factors that protect the millions of legal gun owners who have never caused a mass shooting. There is room for improvement for sure!
May 12, 2022
5 stars. Schumann's story of surviving a campus shooting and its after effects was heartbreaking. It's encouraging to see a novel being written about gun control and violence and its hold it has on this country. Too many Christians in this country hold guns at a higher standard than humans and this book does a great job of looking at the shortcomings of statistics, laws, and ideologies. Full review to come.
February 19, 2021
Taylor S. Schumann was already an empathetic person before the April 2013 shooting at a college in Christiansburg, Virginia that would alter the course of her life both in the short-term and in the long-term.
As school shootings go, the event went relatively unnoticed except for those immediately involved and those in and around Virginia. These days, it seems like if it's not a mass event with mass casualties we hardly take notice.
In this case, Schumann was one of two victims - both survived the attack by an 18-year-old gunman who was captured and disarmed by an unarmed man. Schumann's injuries were the kind of injuries where you're tempted to say to yourself "Wow, you got lucky. It was just your hand." I mean, heck, I lost my own left leg last year and even I get people looking at me and saying "It could have been worse."
Schumann is, of course, aware that it could have been worse but that doesn't change the impact of the shooting itself including a significant and lasting physical injury that has resulted in multiple surgeries and a likely permanent impact. The shooting happened right before Schumann's wedding to Eric, a wedding that went on as scheduled with a marked impact that is noted simply yet powerfully in the pages of Schumann's memoir meets manifesto "When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough: A Shooting Survivor's Journey Into the Realities of Gun Violence."
The timing of "When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough" is perhaps sublime. Schumann is several years away from her shooting event. She's married now, to Eric, and they have a child and a life back in Virginia. She's devoted herself to her healing journey, emotionally and physically, and she's also increasingly committed herself to involvement in the issue of gun violence and gun reform while also committing herself to the often frustrating journey of getting the church involved in the issue.
"When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough" is far enough away from Schumann's incident that we can understand and feel her subsequent journey, yet it's also in many ways close enough that there's a rawness in the pages of "When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough" that you can't help but ache for Schumann and the ways in which this one small piece of one day in her life has imprinted itself like a quilted square on the tapestry of her life.
These types of incidents can, of course, detour one's life to just the opposite direction. An already empathetic Schumann became more empathetic. She moved from someone who might read about such an incident and say "I'm going to pray" to someone who says "I want to do much more because that's what I believe Jesus would do."
There are those, of course, who would disagree with her. She believes they are wrong and has zero hesitation to say so.
As someone who has long been engaged in violence prevention activism, I most resonated with the beauty and wonder of the first half of "When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough," the portion of the book during which Schumann largely shares her own story from before the day of her shooting to the shooting itself and finally to the days, weeks, and months that followed of healing and, at times, realizing that she's now a different woman from the person who was innocently at work when an 18-year-old college student aimed a shotgun at her and pulled the trigger.
What some may see as a "lucky" incident because she survived has, in fact, altered the course of her life, her love, her activism, her parenting, and many of her relationships.
With the second half of "When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough," Schumann largely devotes herself to the realities of gun violence itself and her own shift into activism. While these chapters are equally as engaging and the balance of them within the entirety of the book is quite remarkable, as an existing activist I found them perhaps slightly less involving simply because I was largely dealing with familiar information and familiar arguments for which I'm already in agreement.
While I found the early chapters of "When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough" emotionally resonant and immersive and often requiring stops and starts for my own self-care, the latter chapters of the book I read more breezily and found myself mumbling "I Agree" or "You go, girl!"
They are both powerful, but there's an exhilarating strength and vulnerability in the more memoirish parts of "When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough" that really grabbed me and refused to let me go.
It's hard to say if "When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough" will change hearts or minds about the issues involved with gun violence and gun reform, but Schumann has done the Christian church and society as a whole a tremendous favor by writing this, you guessed it, memoir meets manifesto with equal parts vulnerability and strength, intelligence and empathy. She beautifully and courageously shares her own story, then she allows that story to grow her into the woman she's become and becoming and wonderfully constructs an intelligent, informed, and compassionate discussion about gun violence in America.
It's a discussion we need to have and Schumann is clearly ready to be a part of it all.
As school shootings go, the event went relatively unnoticed except for those immediately involved and those in and around Virginia. These days, it seems like if it's not a mass event with mass casualties we hardly take notice.
In this case, Schumann was one of two victims - both survived the attack by an 18-year-old gunman who was captured and disarmed by an unarmed man. Schumann's injuries were the kind of injuries where you're tempted to say to yourself "Wow, you got lucky. It was just your hand." I mean, heck, I lost my own left leg last year and even I get people looking at me and saying "It could have been worse."
Schumann is, of course, aware that it could have been worse but that doesn't change the impact of the shooting itself including a significant and lasting physical injury that has resulted in multiple surgeries and a likely permanent impact. The shooting happened right before Schumann's wedding to Eric, a wedding that went on as scheduled with a marked impact that is noted simply yet powerfully in the pages of Schumann's memoir meets manifesto "When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough: A Shooting Survivor's Journey Into the Realities of Gun Violence."
The timing of "When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough" is perhaps sublime. Schumann is several years away from her shooting event. She's married now, to Eric, and they have a child and a life back in Virginia. She's devoted herself to her healing journey, emotionally and physically, and she's also increasingly committed herself to involvement in the issue of gun violence and gun reform while also committing herself to the often frustrating journey of getting the church involved in the issue.
"When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough" is far enough away from Schumann's incident that we can understand and feel her subsequent journey, yet it's also in many ways close enough that there's a rawness in the pages of "When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough" that you can't help but ache for Schumann and the ways in which this one small piece of one day in her life has imprinted itself like a quilted square on the tapestry of her life.
These types of incidents can, of course, detour one's life to just the opposite direction. An already empathetic Schumann became more empathetic. She moved from someone who might read about such an incident and say "I'm going to pray" to someone who says "I want to do much more because that's what I believe Jesus would do."
There are those, of course, who would disagree with her. She believes they are wrong and has zero hesitation to say so.
As someone who has long been engaged in violence prevention activism, I most resonated with the beauty and wonder of the first half of "When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough," the portion of the book during which Schumann largely shares her own story from before the day of her shooting to the shooting itself and finally to the days, weeks, and months that followed of healing and, at times, realizing that she's now a different woman from the person who was innocently at work when an 18-year-old college student aimed a shotgun at her and pulled the trigger.
What some may see as a "lucky" incident because she survived has, in fact, altered the course of her life, her love, her activism, her parenting, and many of her relationships.
With the second half of "When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough," Schumann largely devotes herself to the realities of gun violence itself and her own shift into activism. While these chapters are equally as engaging and the balance of them within the entirety of the book is quite remarkable, as an existing activist I found them perhaps slightly less involving simply because I was largely dealing with familiar information and familiar arguments for which I'm already in agreement.
While I found the early chapters of "When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough" emotionally resonant and immersive and often requiring stops and starts for my own self-care, the latter chapters of the book I read more breezily and found myself mumbling "I Agree" or "You go, girl!"
They are both powerful, but there's an exhilarating strength and vulnerability in the more memoirish parts of "When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough" that really grabbed me and refused to let me go.
It's hard to say if "When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough" will change hearts or minds about the issues involved with gun violence and gun reform, but Schumann has done the Christian church and society as a whole a tremendous favor by writing this, you guessed it, memoir meets manifesto with equal parts vulnerability and strength, intelligence and empathy. She beautifully and courageously shares her own story, then she allows that story to grow her into the woman she's become and becoming and wonderfully constructs an intelligent, informed, and compassionate discussion about gun violence in America.
It's a discussion we need to have and Schumann is clearly ready to be a part of it all.
July 2, 2022
Listened to the audiobook. The author tells of her experiences after becoming a victim of gun violence on a school campus. She was very open about her struggles. For me, she is preaching to the choir but the people who need to read this the most probably will not be willing to read it.
She shares of her trauma (both physical and emotional) and how over time she was able to move past many of her fears and is now an advocate for sensible gun laws etc.
She’s a bit syrupy at times but I get the sense that it is genuine. Some of the examples of what schools are doing to prep young kids for potential gun violence on campus were downright scary & staggering. The last section gives one a lot of stats regarding gun violence which was a little over the top to listen to, but would be better in chart form in a physical book.
She shares of her trauma (both physical and emotional) and how over time she was able to move past many of her fears and is now an advocate for sensible gun laws etc.
She’s a bit syrupy at times but I get the sense that it is genuine. Some of the examples of what schools are doing to prep young kids for potential gun violence on campus were downright scary & staggering. The last section gives one a lot of stats regarding gun violence which was a little over the top to listen to, but would be better in chart form in a physical book.
August 29, 2021
Joelle Still Reads Her Bookcase #50
A beautiful book about heartbreak, loss, redefining your entire life, and the essence of the Gospel. I was already a pacifist before reading this book, and it definitely gave me more reasons to continue as one. Schumann doesn't throw facts at you; nor does she slap you with her opinion. She simply shares the unimaginable tragedy she endured, personally, and the reality of what is happening in our country. Whether you are simply "pro - gun," "2nd Amendment gung-ho," or a pacifist, you need to read this book. Most importantly, you need to read it with an open mind and a heart ready to hear from the Holy Spirit.
A beautiful book about heartbreak, loss, redefining your entire life, and the essence of the Gospel. I was already a pacifist before reading this book, and it definitely gave me more reasons to continue as one. Schumann doesn't throw facts at you; nor does she slap you with her opinion. She simply shares the unimaginable tragedy she endured, personally, and the reality of what is happening in our country. Whether you are simply "pro - gun," "2nd Amendment gung-ho," or a pacifist, you need to read this book. Most importantly, you need to read it with an open mind and a heart ready to hear from the Holy Spirit.
September 13, 2021
I listened to the audiobook. The first half is Taylor’s story of her school shooting and her unending road to recovery. She tells it with grace and humility. I was captivated by it. The second half is about guns - laws, statistics, beliefs, etc. She has done extensive research on this subject and feels passionately about it. I will admit I got a little distracted listening to some of the statistics, but it was still worth listening to, no matter which side you’re on. She has a strong faith and knows scripture well. I admire her for sharing her story, knowledge, and beliefs so openly and honestly and humbly.
December 8, 2021
This is a must-read. Taylor writes from her own experience as a shooting survivor, sharing a clear picture about all of the after-effects of a shooting (mentally, physically, etc). She also presents clear data as well as actionable next steps in the fight against gun violence.
October 9, 2021
Thought provoking personal story from a victim of gun violence.
August 13, 2022
Schumann does a really good job of incorporating her memoir and experiences with a general discussion of the problems of gun violence and practical potential solutions. There's a section on common myths about gun reform and responses. I appreciate that she acknowledges how the immense weight of the tragedy of gun violence can make it easier to feel like you just can't do anything. This book make me think about what I can specifically do. Knowing what laws my state has about guns is a start (Iowa gets an F for gun safety laws according to the Giffords Center.)
This book was more interesting to me than I first expected because I didn't realize that the author was a) a devout Christian and b) someone who grew up and lives in a place with a very strong gun culture and used to be someone who spouted all the lies and misconceptions about why guns actually make us safer. The latter in particular made her story more meaningful and also more relevant to the wider conversation, in some ways. It's really hard for me to understand gun culture, and I appreciated her balance of respect for gun owners with a fierce advocacy for change. And I always enjoy reading about a Christian's journey to realizing that the Republican party isn't actually the party of Jesus.
I also appreciated what she said about how people change. It's not that people don't change, they can change, it just happens slowly and over time. Your one conversation about gun reform with someone who disagrees with you isn't going to magically change their mind, but it might plant a seed that grows over time, and she cites several examples of this happening.
This book was more interesting to me than I first expected because I didn't realize that the author was a) a devout Christian and b) someone who grew up and lives in a place with a very strong gun culture and used to be someone who spouted all the lies and misconceptions about why guns actually make us safer. The latter in particular made her story more meaningful and also more relevant to the wider conversation, in some ways. It's really hard for me to understand gun culture, and I appreciated her balance of respect for gun owners with a fierce advocacy for change. And I always enjoy reading about a Christian's journey to realizing that the Republican party isn't actually the party of Jesus.
I also appreciated what she said about how people change. It's not that people don't change, they can change, it just happens slowly and over time. Your one conversation about gun reform with someone who disagrees with you isn't going to magically change their mind, but it might plant a seed that grows over time, and she cites several examples of this happening.
Read
March 18, 2024I picked up this book after reading Lore Wilbert's recommendation on Substack. Since living in Minneapolis and seeing the results of gun violence in a drug-controlled community, I've developed a lot of questions about how to balance Second Amendment rights while dealing with urban violence. For two years, I lived on a city block controlled by gang war where neighbors shot at each other with an automatic and bullets hit our house eight times on three different occasions. During one of those times, I thought I would have to administer first aid after watching my friend get (seemingly) shot in the head by a bullet going through our dining room. (Thankfully, the bullet actually missed her by six inches). After that and the elementary school shooting in Nashville, I had questions. Urban violence, strong drug trading, and racial tensions make appropriate gun control measures seem a lot more necessary.
I still believe in gun ownership rights, but I started the conversation with this book. Taylor offers her own experience with gun violence in the school as part of her argument. On the one hand, I appreciated how she told her story. On the other, I found her primary focus on strong emotional appeals and personal experience a hard sell for accepting her main argument. I have questions about liberty, free capitalism, and the effectiveness of various controls that weren't answered, and I personally find data and reason more persuasive than personal anecdotes. Taylor's book provided some helpful information about gun control measures people are proposing as well as addressing common counterarguments, but I need a lot more information.
I still believe in gun ownership rights, but I started the conversation with this book. Taylor offers her own experience with gun violence in the school as part of her argument. On the one hand, I appreciated how she told her story. On the other, I found her primary focus on strong emotional appeals and personal experience a hard sell for accepting her main argument. I have questions about liberty, free capitalism, and the effectiveness of various controls that weren't answered, and I personally find data and reason more persuasive than personal anecdotes. Taylor's book provided some helpful information about gun control measures people are proposing as well as addressing common counterarguments, but I need a lot more information.
March 28, 2025
This one gets five stars from me because I am so impressed with the raw and vulnerable way Taylor tells her story. I can’t imagine sharing the details of such a traumatic and life-altering event for anyone to read. Her story left me overwhelmed and wondering what will actually stop these things from happening in our country. And more importantly, what can I do to help? Thankfully she pivots halfway through the book to answer those very questions. She shares a wealth of statistics about gun violence and scientific studies on possible gun reform policies, along with really practical suggestions. This doesn’t need to be a partisan issue, and reducing gun violence doesn’t have to mean giving up our freedoms. We just need to be willing to listen, learn, and take action.
August 27, 2022
While I hesitate to say anything should be required reading, if I had to start a list...this would be at the top. The author grew up in a conservative, pro-gun, Christian family and survived a shooting. She still lives with her injuries today, and in her physical and emotional recovery, grappled with the realities of our gun culture and the contradiction with her faith, while learning more about the gun industry and legislation. Part memoir, part "how-to" for anyone wanting to change gun violence in America.
February 7, 2023
This is a powerful and poignant book. In the wake of so much gun violence, we need to stop looking away and ignoring the voices and communities that bear the scars to this day. The author’s story is moving, and I learned much from her case for gun reform.
I had this book on the shelf but started reading it after the devastating shootings in California during Lunar New Year 2023. I’m glad I did because gun violence is a love of neighbor, pro-life issue. May our hearts not be hardened to this.
I had this book on the shelf but started reading it after the devastating shootings in California during Lunar New Year 2023. I’m glad I did because gun violence is a love of neighbor, pro-life issue. May our hearts not be hardened to this.
July 19, 2021
When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough is an honest, gracious, love thy neighbor conversation. This is the book I wish I’d had after the shooting at my school in 2019 when people asked what they could do to help or how they could best support me. This is the book I would have asked them to read then, and this is the book I highly recommend you read now. For those who ask how they can best support or love someone struggling through the aftermath of gun violence, or what steps they can take to support an end to gun violence, this precious resource is a great place to start.
Throughout the book, author Taylor Schumann weaves together her personal story—surviving a shooting, her recovery from a gunshot wound that nearly took her hand, her spiritual development in the wake of horror, and how it opened her eyes to what it means to love your neighbor as Christ loves you—with the realities of how gun violence affects human lives every day in the United States. With love, compassion, and grace-filled honesty that is unafraid to tackle hard conversations, Schumann uses the second half of her book to discuss research and evidence based ways to promote a society that values human life over the endless violence we see on a daily basis. Schumann does not shy away from presenting the current loopholes and lapses in our laws, and how we might go about reforming them. As Schumann discusses the gun violence epidemic in our country, she also engages the idea of what it looks like to be a responsible, law-abiding gun owner. Schumann believes that armed and un-armed individuals alike have a responsibility to work together to end gun violence, and details evidence-based methods of how this is possible.
With every word, Schumann’s belief in the dignity of human life and love for her fellow human beings is apparent. Like Schumann, I believe that the church should be on the front lines of this issue, offering an example of love, peace, and compassion for the suffering and hurting among us. Gun violence in the United States is a public health crisis, and caring for others means that we must care about this issue which affects our communities. In the United States, 58% of American adults (a number that does not include teens or children, who are also severely affected by gun violence) or someone they care for has experienced gun violence. That is more than half our society. Over 330 people in the United States are killed or wounded by guns per day, a statistic that does not even count those mentally and emotionally hurt by the trauma of gun violence, or the families and friends left grieving their loved ones deaths, injuries, and/or traumas.
Schumann invites us to consider that the weapon matters, as much for its unique ability to cause massive, debilitating harm (a fact that doctors have discussed time and again as firsthand witnesses of the damage guns can do to the human body) as for the value society places upon them. Schumann invites us to consider what happens when guns become idols, and what role our desire to love like Christ ought to play in how we treat and handle firearms. Although such discussion can be difficult and uncomfortable for many, Schumann’s gracious, conversational tone invites us to unite in seeking goodness, harmony, and peace.
Ultimately, Schumann’s book is not looking to frame gun violence and gun safety as a partisan issue. Too often co-opted by politics, the effects on human life matter far too much to relegate this issue to mere partisan opinions. Here, Schumann demonstrates the life or death nature of this issue, and reminds us that it is not one where we can be silent. There is too much at stake—for ourselves, our children, our communities, our country, our world—to shut our eyes to the daily reality of the society around us. Yes, gun violence is a difficult conversation; however, it is a conversation that is not only worth having, but that we have no other option but to have. We cannot close our eyes to this issue any longer. With so many in our country being killed or harmed by this epidemic every single day—whether through gun homicides, firearm suicides, accidental shootings, mass shootings, or school shooting— we must look the issue in the face with courage and honesty and say, “I am willing to have this discussion, and I am willing to learn.”
I firmly believe that reading this book is one step you can take toward loving your neighbors. It belongs on the shelves of church libraries, on the desks of pastors, in the hands of psychologists, social workers, and teachers. It deserves to be read by those in or desiring leadership positions. Most of all, it belongs in the hands of people who know that something is not right with the violence around us.
May we have the integrity to have this conversation. May we have the humility to seek to learn. May we have the passion to seek change. And finally, may we, like Schumann, have the courage to say that “I’m going to choose even the hope for life over the current reality of lives ravaged by guns and bodies and minds torn apart by bullets. Every day we are given a choice and I’m going to choose life” (109).
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April 2, 2023Started this book mere hours before the tragedy in Nashville. First half is her personal story/journey. Second half is hard to argue with data on gun violence. This’ll be a challenging read for some 2nd amendment supporters.
April 27, 2023
This was a very sobering and important read. I highly recommend as there were a lot of statistics and gun facts I did not know about. Very eye opening.
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