We were warned against mentioning gun control following the Las Vegas massacre—to not refer to it as a massacre or a slaughter but just another mass shooting. We were allowed to call it the deadliest in American history. Then as I was leaving a parking lot at the end of the week, I saw three decals on the back of a vehicle: an assault rifle, an American flag in the shape of Texas, and a cross. The stance celebrates freedom to have a military-style rifle; live in Texas, USA; and be counted as a follower of Christ.
Imagine Jesus Christ with an assault rifle or any gun. That would go against everything he stood for. He is the one who suggested when someone hurts us to turn the other cheek. That is a reference to pacifism: to not fight, to allow yet another slap on the face or physical injury, even death. Christianity is not a religion about being locked and loaded, ready for a fight, ready to use firearms, shoot if shot at. It’s not a religion that permits possession of and carrying a sure-fire deadly weapon for personal safety. Christianity is about going out into the world unarmed, with sincerity and faith, and most importantly being ready to suffer and die for religious beliefs. But if Christianity and Jesus are going to be dragged into our American gun control debate, used as some proof of ultimate religious consecration, I’d go back to reading The Bible’s red-word-only sections.
Jesus did not carry a weapon to destroy his enemies. The Romans, however, would have loved assault rifles. It fits their renowned blood thirst and machismo, their insatiable need to prove their ultimate strength and brutality. Perhaps the U.S. is modern-day Rome.
The National Rifle Association—with its scant lobbying funds compared to the Chamber of Commerce and pharmaceuticals—can be blamed but a little for our nation’s escalating mass shootings, now reaching slaughter in scope and carnage. It’s not the NRA’s fault. These shooting massacres are the fault of every American citizen. Who the hell thought any private citizen should own military-style assault rifles, the kind that spray bullets and kill dozens in seconds flat?
When it comes to the general public and guns, I take the word of the police chiefs and sheriffs whose associations did not support concealed gun laws. The seasoned officers tried to warn us a couple decades ago: Every and any body should not have a gun. But that’s what has happened, all kinds of people getting powerful guns legally and otherwise. And Americans don’t believe in having one firearm; there are enough guns in our nation for each and every one of us, infant to elderly. That clearly means many Americans own more than one gun.
Somehow the American love of guns and high-powered rifles has got to wane. Our fascination with guns has gotten us into so much trouble, brought on so much heartache, been the cause of more injuries and death especially among young people than almost any other cause statistically. The NRA may have a valid point in blaming the most recent mass shooting on the movie industry. With a body count of 59 and hundreds injured, the scenario is reminiscent of big-budget Hollywood action movies. But … see, movies are fantasies; they’re not supposed to be reality.
Americans have loved guns for a long time. Our forefathers may have thought it just and good for us all (well, white men of a certain age) to have a musket around the house to prevent Red Coats or any foreign figure from taking over our burgeoning nation or from preventing our own leader from declaring himself a dictator. Maybe thinking if every property owner had one or two firearms, it would be really hard for a foreign army to kill us all and take over our new government back in the 1770s. Well, we’re in the at-home assault rifles and nuclear age now.
There has been comic speculation about guns and man parts, as a reason why some men have to have so many powerfully large guns (to make up for a physical lack). If so, that is proving some American men to be the head cases that would shoot people at malls, churches, concerts, etc., etc. and then himself.
If gun control cannot be a debate in 21st century America, if Americans just cannot deal with the thought of reconsidering at least military assault rifles, then we have no choice but to look inside the mind of our fellow citizens who own tons of guns. The federal government does do that on occasion, and look what happens: Ruby Ridge, Waco and in retaliation Oklahoma City. All of which proves my point: Americans are generally gun crazy. And being that way and staying that way is just plumb crazy.