Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. Genesis 6:11
All of our hearts are sad and heavy after the tragic deaths of 20 children and six adults at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. A young man armed with several guns apparently forced his way into a school and in a matter of minutes, took the lives and futures of so many innocent victims.
Almost immediately, politicians and TV pundits began talking about gun control and the need for more stringent legislation on the sale and possession of firearms. I am fine with that conversation taking place as part of civil dialogue.
I am a gun owner and have been all my life, but I realize it is too easy for some disturbed people to buy them in our sporting good stores. If there can be helpful conversations between the mental health community and our legislators resulting in laws that could eliminate this from our society, then count me in for support.
More importantly, let’s also talk about the subculture of violence in our country. Where is the outrage about the violent video games our kids are playing and the movies that are marketed trumpeting horrible scenes of carnage and bloodshed? At my house, my kids have gaming devices, but there are no games where any kind of weapon takes the life of another person, and my kids do not watch violent movies.
I challenge every parent, regardless of your views of the 2nd Amendment, to take a stand against violence in our homes. Let’s be a people of peace, who are following the Prince of Peace, and let’s teach our children that life is a gift from God which should be cherished, nourished and protected.
Let’s have these difficult conversations, starting in our homes and across the table from our friends, but let’s make sure we are tackling the root of the issue and not just the fruit.
December 15, 2012 at 9:39 pm
This is excellent, Pastor Brady… I couldn’t agree more…
December 16, 2012 at 5:56 pm
Brady,
The problem is not that the mentally disturbred can buy guns. I don’t believe that if an individual is documented to be mentally disturbed they can buy a gun. This young man used weapons from his own home.
December 18, 2012 at 3:34 pm
I agree on the violent video games, but even if all believers followed that, there would still be plenty of customers.
The most effective deterrent to mass shootings in schools would be to void the gun-free zone law passed in the 90s and allow schools to protect their students.
http://hammeroftruth.com/2012/most-dangerous-ban-in-america-already-here-gun-free-zones/
December 20, 2012 at 5:31 am
Sometimes I wonder if other people must be so much smarter than me. (And not just smarter, but full of certainty to speak their mind and to act.)
I wonder if some of these complex issues can be solved one way. I go through thinking through an idea and try to think of its unintended consequences or try to research it a little and listen to detractor’s voices too. I feel like I reach a dead end or a compromise that I don’t like.
Then, in my mind, I try to solve it a different way. And similarly, I can’t say I’m fully delighted in where such a “solution” might get us either. I listen to pundits and I left with impression that they’re not getting certain complexities or root elements of human nature among some and many of us. I wonder about scenarios involving mental illness. I wonder about the cases of all those people who have been deeply hurt in life, especially as children bringing deep scars and needs forward into participation in adult society.
i wonder about not what just what consequences might be but cost too. Can we afford things we banter about? Are ideas implementable? What’s the impact to human rights?
Sometimes, in a world and culture where it feels like everybody else has every social ill’s elixir figured out, I’m at a loss.
Sometimes, I don’t even know how to engage in these conversations and simply my heart aches for something better than this.
I once heard, to every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
And some days, I simply grieve.
And some days, I even hope that a first fruit’s seed takes root.
In many ways, life is an Advent season.
December 21, 2012 at 3:39 pm
I have to admit. I cannot fathom how seemingly intelligent people can come to these conclusions. The fact is that the nobody who has a mental issue can purchase a gun. The only way that could happen is under the cloud of illegal gun sales. I find that highly ironic that our government would even suggest more stringent rules on guns when they GAVE guns to Mexican drug dealers directly which has killed 2 US border agents along with at this point hundreds of Mexican citizens. And, our govt.’s own assessment is that they will NEVER know how many others will be affected by this insane foray.
Also, the fact is that LEGAL gun owners commit approximately less than 1% of all gun murders in the United States. Most guns are either stolen and turned on innocent bystanders or on other drug dealers.
Here are the leading Real Time Estimate Top 7 Causes of Death Since 1 Jan, 2012
Tobacco: 529,000
Medical Errors: 195,000
Alcohol Abuse: 107,400
Vehicle Accidents: 42,000
Suicide: 29,350
Drug Abuse: 25,500
Firearm Homicide: 10,828
Is 10,000 alot? Yes, but let’s not be knee jerk about it.