Yesterday was another sad day in this country. With the continual rise of theater shootings, mall shootings, and school shootings, it is high time that we who call ourselves Christians, that we who identify ourselves with the Prince of Peace, finally act on the convictions we mouth. If you are a Christian, it is time for you to lay down your guns. Turn them in. Hand them over. Get rid of them. More guns is not the answer. The stupid suggestion that "If more of us had guns then we would be able to take out shooters" is absurd. The fear-mongering grip that the NRA has on both citizens and politicians is sickening. They continue to promote an agenda of fear leading people to believe that more guns equals more freedom. This is patently a lie. It is a lie that lines the pockets of gun makers, bullet makers, and the military machine that drives so much of this country. But we as Christians need to finally stand up and say "Enough is enough!" Nearly two dozen innocent people were shot yesterday and murdered and the majority of them were elementary school children.
Some are suggesting that we need to arm our teachers. Some are suggesting that we need to put armed guards in the schools. Some are suggesting that 18 year old students in high school should be allowed to carry guns. Somehow these people convince themselves that more people carrying guns will lead to more peace. This logic is hogwash. The opposite, however, is true: less guns will equal less mass murders. A case in point, which was lost in the news yesterday is that in China, there was also an attack on a school. There were also nearly two dozen victims in this attack. However, the man had a knife, not several guns and hundreds of bullets. The difference: Yesterday in America, two dozen people died. Yesterday in China, about two dozen people were wounded. Those children in China are still alive!
Of course, this is not to say that death cannot be caused by knives, surely, they can. In fact, there have been a number of knife rampages in China in the last several years where people have died. Yet, the fact is, a man with a knife cannot do nearly as much harm as one with one or more guns. In China, for the most part, private citizens are restricted from owning and carrying guns. Gun laws are incredibly tight and it is very difficult for anyone outside of military or government rank (e.g. police) to own and carry a firearm. I dare say that had America had such laws, those children in Connecticut would likely still be alive and able to celebrate Christmas with their families.
Instead, what we have is nearly two dozen children who have died, whose presents remain under the tree, who will not get to sing Christmas carols with their parents, who will not get tucked into bed on Christmas Eve with visions of sugar plumbs dancing in their heads, and who will not live to see another day. And sadly enough, one of the things that makes this so disturbing is that so many who call themselves Christians continue to advocate gun ownership and gun laws. To be blunt, how can people who call themselves followers of Jesus be so stupid? Prior to this post I had taken a sort of middle-of-the-road position where I would say that I don't think it's wrong to own guns. Now, I recant that position. I do think it's wrong. There is no reason a Christian should own a gun. I don't care if you are a hunter, a sportsman, or whatever, there is no reason for it. Plain and simple!
One thing I know is that habits, especially old habits, die hard. I also know that none of us likes to be told what to do. Even so, I beg and plead with all of you Christians out there to take a stand. Help us turn things around. You lead the way by turning in your guns. Lay down your arms. Get rid of them. Be the example that others need to follow. Let's lead a revolution and change this violence-driven society. Stop telling yourself the lies and stop listening to the lies that say you need guns to be safe. Stop glorifying violence. Choose peace. True peace never comes through violence...NEVER! Follow in the steps of the peacemaker par excellence--Jesus. Walk in a way that is worthy of him. Be the first to lay down your guns! Be the first to spark this revolution. More peace is the answer.
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