As an avid outdoors-man and hunter, I own a few shotguns. Yet, every sensible citizen will recognize that America, and that includes the American church, has a serious problem not shared by any other country in the world – rampant gun violence.
Hoping to build on the success of the #Black Lives Matter movement (and here), young people of all ethnicities across the country are marching today in the #Our Lives Matter Campaign (also here). Their commitment to speaking out, activism, demonstration, political engagement, non-violence and civil discourse is inspiring, convicting and hopeful.
Perhaps the need for gun reform in this country will not be pushed onto the
back burners this time, as it always has been in the past.
As the principle advocates for non-violence in our world, Christians should support and participate in this important moment in our history, expanding the conversation beyond gun control.
Here are a few of my thoughts on the basic principles (in no particular order) that need to be understood for any civil conversation about gun control to move forward
The London rally, in solidarity with the US movement ‘March For Our Lives’, is one of hundreds of gun control protests taking place globally. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga AKMEN (Photo credit should read TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images)
positively.
- We need to recognize that the NRA is not a citizens’ organization. It is not defending anyone’s civil rights. The NRA is a lobbying organization that works exclusively for the financial benefit of gun manufacturers.
2. Thus, the NRA will continue to do whatever it can to block new gun control measures. The NRA has changed considerably from the days when it worked with President Roosevelt to pass the first federal gun control laws (the 1934 National Firearms Act and the 1938 Gun Control Act). Those days are long gone.
3. A crucial element in any future success must involve cutting off NRA funding to our elected representatives. Or voting them out of office. This will require lots of effort and grassroots organizing.
4. No sensible person is arguing that there is a single “silver bullet” (pun intended) solution that can end all mass shootings or other violent gun-crimes.
5. But understanding that no “one thing” will solve all our gun violence problems is never a reason for doing nothing at all, as many seem to suggest.
6. Effective solutions will be multi-faceted. Tightening restrictions on gun ownership will be only one element of a much bigger picture. We need a national conversation with a wide range of expertise and experience at the table.
7. Whatever the original intent of the Second Amendment – some argue it was intended to allow citizens to protect themselves from oppressive government; others argue that it was to permit armed militias to defend the government against citizen revolt – the framers never envisioned the type of weaponry being used today.
8. I am sorry, but no civilian has “a right” to own and operate whatever type of lethal armaments they choose. Certainly not if such ownership is free of any and all government regulation or oversight. Remember, there was a time when people could drive cars without a license. Not anymore.
9. No “right” stands in splendid isolation, independent of social responsibility. The 1st amendment does not give me the right to recklessly cream “Fire!” in a crowded theater. Is irresponsible speech more dangerous than an AR-15 equipped with a bump-stock and a high capacity magazine?
10. Yes, all lives matter equally. We can rejoice that a nation-wide movement for gun control seems finally to have begun. Yet, let’s also recognize and confess the latent racism brought to the surface in American society when it requires multiple mass shooting of principally white victims before the issue becomes front page news.
