There has been an upswing in gun violence in Scotland County in recent weeks.

Just this past weekend, there was an incident reminiscent of a wild west shootout. That shooting occurred last Saturday, between two Laurinburg teens in McDuffie Village. Police blame the incident on yet another shooting.

Why that kind of violence now seems to be escalating is hard to say.

A group of Scotland County ministers say they — like most of us — are just as mystified by the problem.

But unlike many of us, these clergy from a variety of denominations and churches are ready to act.

The Scotland County Ministerial Alliance along with the Scotland County chapter of the NAACP are hosting what they are calling an "emergency meeting" Saturday morning to root out the causes of the violence and look for workable ways to end it.

The Rev. George Ellis, the president of the Ministerial Alliance, said violence is a problem that should concern the entire community and the only way to solve it is to involve the entire community.

"We feel that in coming together we can make a difference," Ellis said. "As ministers and as citizens we felt we had to be involved. Law enforcement can't do it alone."

We certainly commend efforts of the NAACP and the churches, including Union Grove Baptist Church; Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church; Bright Hopewell Baptist Church; Westminster Presbyterian Church; Franklin Chapel AME Zion; From the Word Ministries; Timmons Grove Baptist Church; Galilee United Methodist Church; Lutheran Church of the Living Word ; Star of Bethel Baptist Church; Cedar Grove Baptist Church; Laurel Hill First Baptist Church; Jones Chapel Baptist Church; Hope Christian Church; Disciples of Christ; and Reedy Creek Baptist Church.

We hope you will join the initiative on Saturday. The organizers certainly want you and your suggestions there.

The meeting will take place at Ellis' church — Union Grove Baptist Church — at 1019 Shaw St. in Laurinburg.

It begins at 11 a.m.