Freedom and Responibility

One of Our Neighbors at South Fork

I am a gun owner.  I own three guns: a pistol given to me from my father-in-law, an old Winchester 22 rifle I got from my grandmother when I was a kid, and a shotgun I bought to get rid of skunks and possum.  I keep no guns in the parsonage.  I keep the guns apart from the ammunition.  Separate places, hidden places. 

When I was younger I used to hunt some; rabbits, birds, deer. Not so much anymore.   Now I only shoot the occasional offending animal who might be carrying rabies at the farm and engage in some friendly target shooting; what a friend calls a little “plinking.”  I am safe.  I am careful.  I am discrete.  I care about nature and hold a deep regard for the fragility of life.  I consider the right to bear arms a fundamental freedom.

 

What I do not consider a fundamental part of our freedom is the right to bear military weapons without a special permit or need to carry such destructive force.  Automatic and semi-automatic weapons have no place in our homes.  We should not be able to purchase and stockpile such weapons at will.  Our laws have gone too far in offering carry permits to almost anyone. I believe no real good will come from allowing to own and carry heavy weapons. 

The events of the past few weeks underscore my thoughts on this topic.  From unfortunate accidental and self-inflicted shootings to the event of horror in Las Vegas, as a nation we seem to have lost our minds.  Folks who harm themselves or engage in mass shootings are mentally ill. There is no reason to work to find the reason why the man in Las Vegas shot all those folks, because there is not a reason which is reasonable.  There is simply no answer good enough for us to say, “Yes, I can see why someone would do such a thing.”  Our mentally ill are invisible in our midst.  We must change our focus because our neighbors are clearly in pain.

In addition, I believe we must move toward some kind of gun control, because right now we are out of control and my heart grieves the needless loss of life.  I am not suggesting to round up all the guns in the world and throw them in a pile, like some book burning from the last century.  Instead I am suggesting the process of gun purchase be slow and careful, and making military weapons hard to purchase, very hard.  And persons who ask to carry in public must be able pass very detailed checks. 

Freedom holds responsibilities.  Mental Illness is a clear and present danger.  We are called to join together and follow the example of Jesus Christ in how we live with our neighbors in peace and love.