[I suppose once in a while it would behoove me to sprinkle some thoughts more directly on some of the day-to-day issues that so many of us seem to struggle with. Though the spiritual or philosophical side of life (to me) is important, there remains a need to address the basics. For what good does it do to discuss God when a child is hungry? --- Come to think of it, what good does it do to discuss anything whilst any children go hungry? Anyway...]
When discussing gun control, it seems to me that many people complicate the issue(s)…
When thinking about gun control, three or four items come to mind that (seems to me) most folks either ignore, misunderstand, or misrepresent.
1) In my opinion, the prime cause for the need to consider gun control (gun violence) is actually not a cause but an effect… an effect caused by a culture that worships violence… thus, a culture which, significantly, cannot survive without rampant, violent destruction. We live (consciously or subconsciously) by destroying (directly or by proxy) everything around us… the land, the air, the water, the plants, the animals, the people… everything. Until this changes, we will always have increasingly violent episodes committed by individuals and groups, with or without guns. In this context, the energy spent on “gun control” is almost a silly waste. The problem is not guns. The problem is this astonishingly violent culture we live in… which glorifies death and destruction… which indoctrinates others (from birth) into violence.
2) Often, (seems to me) when people discuss gun control, they fail to realize that once the genie is out of the bottle, it is out… gone. Once one person has a gun, all are in danger of it being used. There can be no real gun control unless *all* guns are eliminated. Otherwise, all gun control actually means is leaving guns in the hands of criminals and the paid protectors & enforcers… which, for the average citizen, is not a fair or equitable arrangement. Why? Because on the one hand we would have the disarmed citizen while on the other hand we’d have the bullies… because even the paid protectors & enforcers, in the end must do what they are told to do by those who pay them… and today we can easily see where that is going.
3) In order to address the inequity described in #2 above, the Constitution – put together by people who had just gone through a great deal of hardship & suffering to stop the bullies – specifically states in the Second Amendment:
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
Because of the emotional impact of gun control and its attendant confusion, I think it necessary to go over the definitions of certain terms in this Amendment… (ordinary definitions as from: http://dictionary.reference.com/)
militia — “a body of citizens organized in a paramilitary group and typically regarding themselves as defenders of individual rights against the presumed interference of the federal government.”
the right — “that which is due to anyone by just claim, legal guarantee, moral principle”
to keep (what?) — “to hold or retain in one’s possession; hold as one’s own”
and
bear (what?) — “to carry; bring”
arms — “weapons, especially firearms.” (note that this also implies swords, knives, crossbows, tasers, etc.)
infringe — “encroach on somebody’s rights or property”
Seems plain to me… like it or not, (assuming that you are truly living under the Constitution) the only way to legislate any type of legitimate gun control (including permits & checks) is via constitutional amendment… I would also suggest that we are supposed to protect our own, not depend upon other than family, friends, and neighbors.
4) One final point to consider… which (in my opinion) essentially overrides all of the above… ultimately (regardless of any laws or permits) gun control *only* exists in the hand of the one holding the gun… or God… regardless of your “reality”… so if you want to truly (and reliably) control guns (or gun violence), you’ll have to melt down all the guns.
Having said all that, here is my thought…
Perhaps, rather than waste time and energy on gun control, we would all be better served by removing violence from our culture… and instead, always nurture a healthy respect for Life in all its forms…
you know… Love.
M
