“James Atwood is our most honest, most reliable, and boldest critic of U.S. gun culture; he is also our most determined advocate for acting wisely against that culture. This book is loaded with crucial information about gun culture and the mendacity of the NRA. It is, at the same time, a faith-based summons to act in hope, to refuse the collusion of despair, to take faith seriously enough to make a difference. Atwood shows why something can and must be done to counter our current run of violence, which is supported by racist anxiety. This book is urgent for all those who care about the future of our society and who are ready to act in informed ways.”
~Walter Brueggemann, professor emeritus at Columbia Theological Seminary
“I’ve read every one of James Atwood’s books. Gun violence is a public health crisis in our country and one of the most urgent moral issues of our time. Atwood is a leading voice in the world when it comes to gun violence, and especially when it comes to the intersection of God and guns in America. He knows that we have both a gun problem and a heart problem, and he addresses both in this book. If you care about life, this is required reading. As Atwood will show you, it is impossible to be pro-life, pro-Jesus, and uncritically pro-guns.”
~Shane Claiborne, activist, author, and founder of Red Letter Christians
“James Atwood has done it again in his third book about guns in American society. He continues to provide lots of data and stories that inform and move the reader beyond ‘thoughts and prayers’ to informed action. Atwood explores the ripple effects of gun violence that damage not just victims but children, families, communities, institutions, the economy, and indeed our national soul. Grounded in a Christian faith perspective, Atwood pushes us to exercise what is perhaps our most underdeveloped moral muscle right now—empathy. A critical empathy is at the heart of ethical engagement with this issue. I recommend that congregations who might feel hopeless and powerless in confronting growing gun violence in our society read Collateral Damage together. You will be inspired—and changed.”
~Katie Day, Charles A. Schieren Professor Emerita of Church and Society at United Lutheran Seminary
“When I retire from congregational pastoring, I want to be like my friend James Atwood. Decades of professional ministry in challenging contexts earned him the right to retire in peace and quiet. Instead, after moving to a retirement community in the bucolic Shenandoah Valley, he decided to invest his tireless energy and formidable intellect in continuing his struggle against gun violence, a moral and theological problem that occupied most of his salaried career. Trust this man and his words. He has researched them well. He has lived them. Then follow his lead and rise up with a righteous indignation paired with a steadfast hope in the unstoppable reign of God. Peace and justice are God’s work and ours, in collaboration. Together we can, in Atwood’s words, ‘work for God’s peaceful tomorrow.’”
~Phil Kniss, senior pastor of Park View Mennonite Church
“James Atwood makes a compelling argument that the conversation about firearms is indeed a moral one—and that the status quo is unacceptable. We have turned weapons into idols, and this form of idolatry can only be countered by moral outrage. People of faith and all who want to leave a better world for their children should run to read this book.”
~Peter S. Berg, senior rabbi at The Temple in Atlanta
“There is gun violence, and then there is the collateral damage caused by gun violence. A focus on the latter is what sets this book apart, as author James Atwood presents compelling evidence of much more damage done beyond the tragic loss of life (as if that were not enough). The bill, for example, for a nation that experiences as much gun violence as the United States is estimated at $229 billion a year. What?! Speaking from deep faith and reverence for life, missionary, pastor, peace activist, and responsible (former) gun owner James Atwood calls all, especially the faithful, to help restore sanity and common-sense safety not only for the sake of the nation but for the sake of the gospel.”
~Al Tizon, affiliate associate professor of missional and global leadership at North Park University
“As a disaster psychologist, I have seen too often the significant, lasting, and largely overlooked ‘collateral damage’ that gun violence does to survivors, nearby communities, and all of us whose lives are increasingly intertwined with this tragic reality. With this sobering and ultimately hopeful book, James Atwood shows that the prevalence of gun violence is not just a safety crisis but also a spiritual one. His sense of urgency in exchanging fear and apathy for action that advocates for truth and for life offers much-needed boldness in a difficult conversation.”
~Jamie Aten, Blanchard Chair of Humanitarian and Disaster Leadership at Wheaton College
