Dominicans Sisters of Peace adopt gun-control stance; seek background checks, assault-weapon ban, funds for mental health and prevention programs.

A congregation of Roman Catholic sisters based in Columbus has approved a corporate stance on gun-control.

The public statement from the Dominicans Sisters of Peace and associates says the group will advocate for �common-sense� gun control laws, including a requirement for universal background checks for gun buyers and a ban on assault weapons. and high-capacity magazines.

It also says the sisters will work for legislation that would provide financial support for mental health and prevention programs.

�Gun violence in the United States claims more than 31,000 lives every year, with more than a half million injured," said Sister Judy Morris, who coordinates the order's social justice efforts. �With responsible, common-sense legislation, thousands of lives can be saved.�

Morris said the order does not advocate taking away the right to bear arms.

The congregation said a number of other religious groups have taken stances on gun control, including the National Council of Churches, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence.

The stance from the Sisters of Peace was passed with a two-thirds vote of its congregation. The support means the order will dedicate time, energy, personnel and other resources to the effort.

The congregation includes 575 sisters and 550 lay associates in 36 states and in Honduras, Kenya, Nigeria, Peru and Vietnam.