On Guns and Their Control ~ Which Way Are You Going???

Greetings Dear Reader,

My writing yesterday triggered an energetic discussion for a friend of mine (pun intended).  Some of his dear friends asked many questions about the question at hand.  I cannot long labor on this topic as it pains me to do so.  Still my friend deserves and honest and humble response. 

These are the same gun

The question surrounding this one gun, the AR-15 was a simple one.  Walk me through the steps that would be taken were the gun banned today.  How would we guarantee that this action would prevent an individual from staging another school shooting with one?  The answer is it will not.  Here are just a few reasons why:

• Of the guns sold in the last two years 1 in 5 is an AR-15 style gun.
• There are numerous ways to acquire the parts and build your own.
• With over 400 MILLION guns in the hands of citizens we have no way of knowing how many are AR-15’s and who has them (even if we got all the registered ones).
• You can buy a kit to 3D print your own AR-15.
• You can still buy the Ruger Mini 14 which is the same gun just not scary looking (thank you Kevin).
• A ban will not do anything to stop someone who is intent on using one to kill people.
• Just the threat of a ban has spiked sales over the last two years and driven many sales underground. 

This, however, is not the point.  The point is that no matter what we limit in terms of availability, it will not change the hearts and minds of humans.  My friend Anne said very clearly that she is for regulation and nothing will change her mind.  That is her choice and she has a constitutional right to that opinion.  When has regulation ever prevented someone from breaking the law?

No matter which side of this discussion you land on, the problem is our failure to love each other.  We cannot salve our own conscience by simply banning this one gun.  We would be lying to ourselves.  A band-aid will not stop the hemorrhage of hate that flows through our culture.  Here are some practical things that can be done to lessen the violence.  Prepare to have your toes trampled a bit.

• Conservatives need to take responsibility that the other side is right that we do not do enough to care for each other’s needs.  They foster hatred by not treating EVERYONE with love and compassion.
• Liberals need to accept that their tolerance does not extend to those who disagree with them on their hot issues.  They need to accept that they foster hatred by treating those who disagree with them as “a basket of deplorables.”
• Everyone needs to take a step back a realize that if it does not lead to kindness and compassion for others it is likely not a good idea. 
• Eventually every great society weakens and falls to an enemy.  We all need to accept that if the enemy is at the gates we will be glad for the ones who are armed and prepared to defend us.
• Every culture that turns on itself decays and dies.  Until we remember to be united as a nation and work our issues out civilly we will continue to die on the vine.

The truth for me is that I hate every form of taking a human life; full stop.  The reality is that we do it every day and only scream about it when we do not like the method or the type of victim.  As I have thought through this all week the answer keeps coming up the same.  Every one of us needs to realize that we can all do better at the “love thy neighbor” stuff.  Until we get serious about that no amount of rhetoric about guns is going to reach those who fear what will happen if they give up their guns.  Until we get serious about it no amount of talk about civil liberties will calm those who see gun owners as self-centered and selfish; only caring about their needs. 

We all stand around guilty of the same hypocrisy.  We are all saying, “Let him live in freedom, if he lives like me.”  That is not love or kindness.  That is vanity, pride, and arrogance.  No side of the argument is innocent of this.  I can do better at it.  I hope this makes my position clearer, Dear Reader.  If I stepped on your toes I apologize and am willing to wash your feet.

Which Way are You Goin’ – Jim Croce

Which way are you going, which side will you be on

Will you stand and watch while, all the seeds of hate are sown

Will you stand with those who say, let his will be done

One hand on the bible

One hand on the gun

One hand on the bible

One hand on the gun

Which way are you looking, is it hard to see

Do you say what’s wrong for him, is not wrong for me

You walk the streets, righteousness but you refuse to understand

You say you love the baby

Then you crucify the man

You say you love the baby

Then you crucify the man

Every day, things are changing,

Words once honored turned to lies

People wondering, can you blame them

It’s too far to run, and too late to hide

Now you turn your back on, all the things that you used to preach

Now its let him live in freedom, if he lives like me

Well you light has changed, confusion rains, what have you become

All your olive branches turned to spears

When your flowers turned to guns

Your olive branches turned to spears

When your flowers turned to guns

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)