David, Goliath and Sister Mary

By DON ROLLINS

It’s not like Sister Mary Traupman hasn’t seen a thing or two. A rare combination of nun, practicing attorney and all-around progressive righter of wrongs, she’s been speaking truth to power since entering the motherhouse of the Sisters of Divine Providence (Pittsburgh) more than 60 years ago.

Over that span she’s drawn the ire of school officials, politicians, bishops and even the IRS, gaining both a faithful following and loyal opposition.

But to wax biblical, Sister Mary’s David hasn’t always championed over the myriad Goliaths that have crossed paths with her. Even when they’ve risked knocking at her door. Literally.

The Goliath in question is INPAX, the newly opened indoor shooting range/gun shop less than a quarter mile from where the Sisters of Divine Providence offer up their morning prayers. (On grounds once owned by the motherhouse itself.)

Prior to its approval, Sister Mary and a small coalition took the lead in opposing the location, citing the rest of the area as even less suitable for an influx of deadly weapons; for almost equidistant to INPAX are a church, hospital, public school, theatre, multiple bars and restaurants - a cornucopia of places where mass shootings are most likely to happen in today’s America.

How INPAX (which, as company founder Sam Rosenberg reminds detractors is a Latin derivation of the phrase “in peace”) successfully persuaded some locals and their elected representatives to their side is familiar to anyone who’s ever fought private takeovers despite the public good.

Although reportedly lobbied by pro-gun Harrisburg firms, and understandably eager to land a large slam-dunk retailer, town officials initially gave the appearance of concern for the risks inherent to the site. No promises were made, but neither was there a rush to approve.

Opponents to the deal were likewise heartened when the nearby public schools rescinded a contract with INPAX for building safety and intruder preparedness. School officials discovered homophobic and anti-Muslim comments posted to the company’s Facebook page by INPAX employees, and after pressure from the community severed all ties.

Yet despite the efforts of Sister Mary and a small coalition, they were reminded that winning a couple of rounds with Goliath is not the same as winning the fight. In the end the town council owned a sloppy process, still they gave INPAX a clear go-ahead. Only afterward did they address gaps in existing policies and procedures.

Meanwhile INPAX is exceeding expectations, even fulfilling Rosenberg’s prediction that his shooting range would serve as a new “anchor” business for nearby shops and restaurants. Complaints have slowed.

Still, it’s telling that in an era of gun rage, officials so blithely place economics over public safety, oft times without much consequence. Maddeningly, this moral tug-of-war over guns in the public square is not unique to suburban Pittsburgh; it’s one more reminder that guns have become normalized, even accessorized in places they shouldn’t.

A more optimistic postscript: If Sister Mary and her partners in protest are moping over another loss to another Goliath, it isn’t showing. According to my Inbox she’s scheduled to pay a call at the offices of not one but both of Pennsylvania’s US senators. By the time you read this Bob Casey and Pat Toomey will have met their new David.

Don Rollins is a Unitarian Universalist minister and substance abuse counselor living in Pittsburgh, Pa. Email donaldlrollins@gmail.com.

From The Progressive Populist, January 1-15, 2019

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