I didn’t grow up in a hunting family. I have never owned a gun. I have gone shooting with those who know how. I even enjoyed destroying some clay pigeons one time, but my shoulder was so bruised by the rifle kickback that I’m not sure it’s a hobby I’ll take up. Still, I have plenty of friends that enjoy hunting and shooting sports and I have certainly appreciated the occasional gift of a wild game meal.
Hunting rifles and the equipment of shooting sports don’t make me anxious, especially when I see how my friends treat these weapons with great care and respect. Instead, I struggle with the obsession so many seem to have with handguns and military-style assault rifles. These are not just the equipment of a hobby. These are the tools of offense and defense for some anticipated struggle with another human. The thought of needing to possess something primarily intended to harm or kill another really makes me anxious. And leaves me a far distance from any sense of the “freedom” that some (not all) gun enthusiasts celebrate.
Each year, more than 39,000 people in the United States die as a result of gun violence, and tens of thousands more suffer non-fatal gun injuries.[1] Sadly, and in spite of our countless advantages, the U.S. stands apart from the rest of the world when it comes to statistics such as this. We have plenty of problems that need addressing, but this obsession with the tools of destruction will continue to remain chief among them until we roll up our sleeves and do something to change the story. As a small step in that direction, we were blessed to host the Rev. Ron Letnes during our Sunday Forum yesterday. Ron leads Engage, the St. Paul Area Synod’s Task Force on Gun Violence Prevention. He reminded us that people of faith don’t have to feel helpless in the face of such a huge challenge. In fact, the only faithful response to the forces of death, is to advocate for life, such as God’s vision expects.
He shall judge between the nations
Isaiah 2:4
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation;
neither shall they learn war any more.
The American Public Health Association offers some good counsel for those who seek ways to beat swords into plowshares:
- Support More Research – laws that restrict the government from collecting gun violence data can be withdrawn. Funding can be invested to expand what we know and understand about gun violence and its effects.
- Support Commonsense Gun Policies – Mandating background checks and eliminating loopholes are policies widely popular with citizens but not yet with politicians. The same is true for certain models of militarized weapons and ammunition.
- Strengthen Red Flag Laws – All states should enact “Extreme Risk Protection Orders,” allowing family members or law enforcement to petition a judge to temporarily remove a firearm from a person deemed at risk of harming themselves or others.
Supporting these efforts can be the foundation of a faithful response to the crisis of gun violence effecting each of us and our neighbors. If you have other ideas, I would love to hear them. Know that if you are troubled or conflicted by what you have read here and think I’m advocating for something contrary to a faithful response to this crisis, I would eagerly welcome a conversation to learn more.
May God’s hope embrace you today. – Pastor Peter
Let us pray… God, may your vision that the tools of destruction make way for the tools to a thriving and abundant life be made real through our efforts of peace. Amen.
[1] CDC. WISQARSTM. Report run 24 February 2018. Atlanta, GA: CDC National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Available at: https://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/dataRestriction_inj.html