Initiative: The Week After Historic Inauguration

“Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” Psalm 133:1 (NKJV)

One week after the historic 57^th Presidential Inauguration brings an all too familiar tone of infighting, divisions, delays and unfinished business. Yes, the uphill battle continues. However, U.S. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton demonstrated unity with the aired 1/27/13 joint interview on CBS “60 Minutes.” Clinton exclaimed that they are both “gluttons for punishment” in describing the path of responsibilities they both chose to take because of their love for the country. She’s right.

Now we’re in the midst of the gun control debate. Although I agree with the right to bear arms, too many firearms are getting into the wrong hands, often leading to disastrous results.

“I feel like killing somebody, anybody!” expressed an angry youth as a local pastor passed a group of teens after greeting them. The pastor opened his church doors and invited the youths in. The youth who shouted the shocking statement also went inside the church. He became so involved in the conversation in the church that the youth’s transformation replaced his anger with warm smiles, laughing and feeling better about himself, yet felt guilty of the needless anger he held just an hour before. The pastor who now leads a Concerned Pastors association feels more churches need to open their doors 24/7, but due to lack of financial support, they cannot afford to.

One of my client’s employees manages counselors who routinely checks on those with mental health issues to make sure their needs are taken care of. During one of those visits, after greeting the adult son, the counselor also looked for the mother who is usually present helping the son. She asked the son of the mother’s whereabouts. He said she was sleeping, as he returned to look at a TV show. The counselor said she noticed a sheet was covering something on the couch. She looked under the sheet and found the son had killed his own mother and covered her with a sheet as she reclined on the couch. If he did not have access to a gun, would the mother still be alive today?

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, about 1.4 million firearms or an annual average of 232,400 firearms were stolen during household burglaries and other property crimes, such as motor vehicles, over a six-year period from 2005 through 2010. According to Johns Hopkins University Center for Gun Policy and Research, approximately 500,000 guns are stolen each year from private citizens. More than 21% of armed criminals got their guns from groups known to steal guns, such as drug dealers, addicts and other street sources, including illegal gun trafficking. This does not include “smash and grab” at gun stores, as reported 1/25/13 on an ABC News investigation on World News with Diane Sawyer. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported 1/2/13 between 50-75 guns and rifles were stolen from a suburban gun store during a “smash and grab.”

Since these guns often end up in the hands of criminals, some states try to create laws to control this escalating situation. One of those states is Maryland. Johns Hopkins University Center for Gun Policy and Research indicated that Maryland limits selling of handguns to one per month,  requires background checks on hand gun sellers and licensed dealers and for gun store owners to promptly report gun theft from their stores to police, among other restrictions.

According to the Christian Science Monitor, the states with the strictest gun laws came about because of the Brady Campaign to prevent gun violence. After the Newtown school shooting tragedy, the federal government is now attempting to create uniform enforcement for all states to follow.

 

A bullet does not discriminate--no matter your age, whether you are male or female, live in luxury or in the ghetto, the value of your life has been diminished. We know if someone wants to do harm with a firearm, no law will stop them. But instead of complaining about our vulnerabilities, hurrying to buy more firearms or watching from the sidelines, we need to at least try to do what we can to minimize gun violence for the betterment of society.

Perhaps the National Rifle Association (NRA) will choose to use its largess to start and fund a required gun safety program for its members on methods to keep guns out of the wrong hands.

“It’s our U.S. Constitutional right to bear arms, but it’s also our moral obligation to attempt to keep guns out of the hands of the wicked,” said Pastor G.G. Womack, II. “According to the history of our forefathers, it was their obligation to keep us safe. And that is what I believe the U.S. federal government is attempting to do today.”

I agree with the NRA’s mission of having the right to bear arms BUT times have changed, people have changed. Changes demand adjustments and readjustments. Just as speed limits have been readjusted and “No Turn on Red” signs continue to be erected to prevent a rising tide of people killed because of car accidents, similarly the rising trend of gun violence must also be addressed.

Let’s face it. The world is becoming more and more dangerous. Deceptions and distractions abound. In the end, though, it’s really about you and your own life, regardless of the number and type of guns or rifles you may have. If the wrong person gets a hold of your firearm, he/she may turn it on you.

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Mark 8:36

Life is precious. You only have one to live. Politics aside…why spend your life protesting to keep assault weapons in the hands of criminals, preventing those with mental health issues from gaining access to guns, securing guns you have with safety locks or against background checks? What’s the point? Why fight against what you know is morally right in your heart?

As a law-abiding citizen, don’t lose your reward through needless fear. Let’s face it, none of us are immortal no matter how many firearms we have. Only God knows the date and time of our last breath. So do the right thing. Regardless of your belief, you will be held accountable for your actions in the end.

“Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” (James 4:14 NKJV)

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If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9 NKJV)