by Justin Thyme, a GSL member
“Guns are killing our young people at an alarming rate.” I read this quote in a newspaper over twenty-five years ago. But is it true? Blaming an inanimate object is often done to condemn that object or supplant the responsibility of what happened on something or someone other than where the responsibility rightfully belongs. The message of the anti-gun crowd is “the gun did it – we have to regulate the gun.”
Level-headed people understand that an inanimate object cannot jump up off the table and kill someone. We’ve all had guns in our home or on our person. We know that guns don’t just “go off” nor do they have a mind of their own.
By understanding guns and how they work, we understand that the gun doesn’t have a mind of its own. It’s not going to suddenly fire.
We have to understand that it is the person wielding the weapon, and more than that, one has to probe the motivation and the circumstances of the situation causing the use of the object which has become a deadly weapon. There are times a weapon is used in self-defense or for the defense of others; there are times the weapon is used with malice for the harm or destruction of an innocent victim. The unchanging circumstance of these situations is that the weapon itself is not to blame, but simply the implement.
It is the person using the implement that bears the responsibility for the action taken. In cases of justifiable self-defense or defense of another, the motivation is to protect or preserve life. Sometimes there is no ill intent – it’s an accident. Other times, a motive of hatred, anger or jealousy provokes criminal activity leading to injury or loss of life. Decisions on this are left to the court to decide. The need at hand seems to be having a legal system which will subdue and punish according to the system of justice under which our country was founded.
Yet, we are left to ponder – where do these evil desires originate?
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jer 17:9 KJV
“Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” Prov 4:23 KJV
“There are six things the Lord hates… a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” Prov 6:16a, 18-19 ESV
The evil we see in our country is a product of losing our bearings – the foundation on which our country was set. We, as a nation, need a heart change, and a return to the values upon which our nation was built.
There was a time in our country in generations past where, generally people treated others with civility, respect and courtesy. Neighbors lent a helping hand and looked out for one another. Good character and responsibility were instilled in the young. Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you was often the order of the day. Good will toward all. This, in itself, would bring a more peaceful lifestyle.
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