Jesus For Gun Control

As I was watching Morning Joe today, a breaking report interrupted the ongoing analysis of the Trump administration and the Russians. Another tragic shooting, just one of many that happen every day in America. But this one made the headlines because members of Congress were intended targets and among the victims. On a baseball field in the middle of a neighborhood in suburban Alexandria, VA, a lone gunman unleashed on a group of Republican congressmen and their staffs as they practiced for a traditional friendly baseball game against the Democrats. One Congressman was among the wounded. The shooter was killed by Capitol police. So familiar.

Every time a mass shooting makes the news, we all grieve. Again and again. There is a lot of hand-wringing and yet, no changes are ever regarding one of the leading causes of the problem - the unrestricted accessibility to guns and ammunition in the US. I realize that there are many underlying reasons for gun violence - mental illness, poverty, drugs, etc. And yes, there are atrocities and violence all over the world, not just in America. But no one can argue against the fact that the use of guns increases the number of victims in these kinds of attacks.

Before someone accuses me (as they did President Obama) of wanting to take away all guns, let me say that I do understand that many people enjoy hunting and target shooting, and I have no problem with that. But those guns should only be obtained after proper licensing and thorough background checks. And things like high-capacity magazines and automatic rifles should be kept out of the hands of the public. 

The instances of guns being used in true self-defense situations are rare. More frequently, personal guns being used in suicides or accidental shootings, often by children who should not have access to them. According to the FBI's Supplemental Homicide Report in 2012, there were 259 justifiable homicides with guns (meaning true cases of self-defense). That same year, there were 8,342 criminal homicides using guns, 20,666 suicides with guns, and 548 fatal unintentional shootings. 

Gun control is a hot button issue in the United States. I've heard the arguments. I understand the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution. Don't get me started on what a "well-regulated" militia means. But I have yet to hear a persuasive argument, based upon Christian principles, in support of unregulated access to and ownership of guns.  

As far as I know, there is no religious justification for the support of unregulated gun ownership or use. The lessons that I get from Jesus point in the opposite direction. Lessons about humility: "If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also." (Luke 6:29) Lessons about peacemaking: "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God." (Matt 5:9) Lessons about refraining from violence: "For all who draw the sword will die by the sword." (Matt 26:52). Lessons about love: "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you," (Matt 5:44)"  I challenge anyone to come up with a New Testament example where the use of violence, even in self-defense is condoned. 

True, Jesus said, "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." (Matt 10:34) But this, in my opinion, is a metaphorical "sword" meant to create division among the Jews, to separate those who see in Jesus a new way of life, and those who cling to the old order. Nothing in Jesus's life, and certainly his death, could really lead us to say that he condoned violence or aggression. 

As a Christian, I believe that I am called to be a peacemaker and among the many steps of the peacemaking process is disarmament. It can be done. And it should be done. Australia, a country with as much of a rough-and-ready history as the US, enacted tougher gun control measures over 20 years ago, including the buy-back or confiscation of over one million firearms and new laws to make it much tougher to buy one. The result? A 72% decline in the murder rate by gun. 

Until all Christians in America stand together and say that gun violence is unacceptable, I do not believe that anything will change. The gun lobby is one of the most powerful and wealthiest in the country. Until attitudes change to value human life over a "right" to have any and every gun without restriction, no substantive laws will be enacted. And these shootings will continue. The fulfillment of God's Kingdom will be postponed, yet again.