The issue of gun control has engulfed our mainstream media for months. From the recent Newtown Connecticut School shooting to the movie theatre massacre in Aurora Colorado just 30 minutes from my home, the senseless killing of innocent life has gotten the stomachs of us here in this country churning! We are hurt, angry and want to find someone to hold accountable; someone to point a finger at. From legal gun owners, to the NRA to the ones we have come to namelessly label “the shooters”. Someone has got to be held accountable! Right?
Let me start off by saying I am not much of a gun enthusiast as I only own one 20 gauge shot-gun I have had since I was 16 for hunting, nor am I a member of the NRA so I am not here to defend the rights of the 2nd amendment; there is no reason to defend it because this amendment does not kill; it protects our right from illegal confiscation of property. The fact of the matter is “things” don’t kill; people do! Gun control will do no good as if someone wants to kill, they will find a way be it with a gun, a knife, a bomb, poison, a car or their bare hands has we see as far back as Cain and Able (Genesis 4). The only thing that causes murder is the heart of a person!
I have only been on this earth for 45 years, a speck of time in the great scheme of things. But just in that short period of time, I find myself asking the same questions as many other people; What is happening to humanity?
Well I will NEVER claim to have all the answers as no one ever will; but this is what I can say with 100% certainty; I remember praying at school. I remember hearing prayer at my high school football games. I remember us stopping in school (public school) to pray when the Space Shuttle exploded; I remember we could sing Christmas songs referencing Christ at our school Christmas pageants. I remember saying the pledge of allegiance; One Nation Under God! Where has all of this gone? I will tell you; it started awhile back with “SON Control”! The second our government felt it was their place to pass laws to satisfy a few people who felt “offended” by hearing prayer, we began what is now becoming apparent; the morality of our nation is dying, along with countless innocent lives!
As far as I am concerned there is already a pretty powerful law that has been in place for quite some time; it is “Thou Shalt Not Kill”! But that law has been silenced along with our right to public prayer. Guess what? Passing a law making gun ownership illegal will not stop the killing. More people are killed each year with bare fists than guns; let’s be real! Until we get back to the heart of man; reaching out and living what Christ taught us in John 13:34, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another”, the killing will only continue to rise. By reaching out and touching the hearts of people with care, compassion, understanding, support and most importantly LOVE, we will do more to soften the hearts of these so-called “killers” than any law we could ever pass. On top of that, we forget that these “gunman” are someone’s son, someone’s brother, someone’s friend; and for those of us that consider ourselves Christians, they are ALL our brothers and sisters! I would say we are ALL vicitims of this hardening of heart facing our country!
My heart still hurts to this day when I think of those little children who were innocently taken; I myself have a 6-year-old daughter, a 10-year-old son and a 19-year-old son, each that could fall victim to a senseless killing any day. Who would be to blame? The killer? the NRA? the gun manufacturer? congress for not banning whatever it was that was used as the weapon that day? Sadly enough the answer is NO!
I need only go as far as a mirror, as with any of us, to see where the finger should be pointed. What is the difference maker? or should I say WHO is the difference maker? It is me; it is you! We need only begin loving our neighbor again; we need only reach out and help that teenager that is going through a tough time whether they are our child or not. We need only fight to abolish “Son” control and focus on “Heart” control!
What are your thoughts? Do you believe removing guns will fix the problem? Do you believe we are a more loving country than 50 years ago or do you too see our morality slipping away? I sincerely love my God and all He has created; that includes you! And while I respect the right to everyone’s opinion, I believe we should respect the value of human life more! My heart and prayers are with those who have lost loved ones to these senseless acts as well to the heart of our nation!
I believe that there is more good in this world and that we all need to care for one another. And I think you’re right- some where we lost touch with taking care of each other. Hopefully we can get that back.
Thanks so much for the comment! I have so much hope for our world because I believe, as you said, there is still alot of good in the world! All we need to do is to start reaching out ot one another and caring! I appreciate your affirmation and if you get opportunity, check out our website http://www.divineimpacts.com and if you feel so inclined I would appreciate a LIKE! Thanks!
Very well said! I love this post out of all of the ones I have read this year. I pray every single morning that my children will be safe. I tell them I love them and hold them tight for a few seconds before they leave, every time they leave. You never know what can happen.
My husband is in law enforcement and has several guns he keeps locked in the gun safe. I have never used a gun myself, but I guarantee you if I needed to protect my family I would not hesitate. My husband is teaching my daughters self-defense like he teaches his police officers, and he will be teaching me to use a gun to protect us.
It is up to me and each individual to be responsible and make good choices. Guns don’t act by themselves. It’s the person that is using it that is the problem. Thank you so much for your inspiring words!
Thank you so much for the kind words and for sharing your view! I totally agree that guns don’t act by themselves; it requires a trouble heart on the other end to make bad things happen; if we can only nbegin to reach out to this people with compassion, I believe we will begin to see the good in our country flourish again! Thanks for shaing! God Bless!
I total agree with you Jeff. I work in the public school system and see and hear a lot. The talk now is to train teachers how to use guns and allow them to have them at school. What I think they really need to allow in schools is prayer. Some children have no respect for their teachers or fellow classmates. All I have to do is listen to these children talk about their home life and the children with God in their life are well behaved (not perfect) and respect others . The others are ready to fight or curse at the smallest things. Only 2 days ago 10 houses down from me a 48 year old lady was choked and beat to death by her boyfriend. No guns used just his hands.. I pray that more people will turn to God and love and respect the life of their fellow man.God Bless You
The evidence is all around us; we need only open our eyes and make the correction! Thanks for the comment! 🙂
Hey Jeff,
I have seen the so-called experts scratching around at the surface and having little connection to the whole picture. You do have the answer; it is love.
With great passion and insight, you are hitting on some uncomfortable territory. When things so blatantly vile and horrific happen, it is easiest to steer clear of the mirror that many rarely find the gumption to look at with smaller responsibilities. Jumping to conclusions with little to no understanding, blame and scratching the surface of major issues won’t cut it.
Our looking in the mirror and starting with ourselves may not directly stop a fellow brother our sister out there from doing harm. But, if we can’t at least take care of making the most of ourselves and our own actions, we will only add to the problem.
It is true that we have to get to the absolute basics and take care of what we can control- what is inside: our motivations, decisions, actions, our approach to relationship. You are breaking some new ground and putting a little salt in the wound with this post. I think it is necessary, because we are hitting the snooze button on our wake up calls over and over again.
From our conversations, I think the one thing that I would like you to consider, is that there is no need for a qualifier for who among us is connected- it isn’t necessary to consider oneself to be a Christian, to understand that we are all brothers and sisters. We are all here, in this (lfe) together to make this world better; and each of us is related in this effort.
Fantastic message!
Donovan., thanks so much for the insight! And as usual you make points that keep me on my toes! You are correct in that not every person on this earth claims to believe in Christ but the one thing I believe we can agree on is regardless of our religious perference, we are all made by one Maker; which connects us! Again I believe there are those thata don’t even believe in God but all we can hope is that we all seek and desire the truth. That in and of itself can set us in the right direction! Thanks for the insight! 🙂
I am so glad your post was the second one above me and I got to see it! As a believer in Jesus Christ, I agree wholeheartedly with every single word you wrote. Heart control. I like it. Great post!
Linda, thanks so much for the affirmation. I have made a promise to myself that I would be true to my ministry in sharing my heart regardless of what people think; but it is affirming to have someone like yourself confirm my feelings! Thanks so much for the comment! 🙂
I grew up in Denver attending the same school district where Columbine took place in 1999. My two daughters were enrolled in that school district that day and I remember being home with their baby brother and watching the local Columbine school trauma unfold while watching the noon news in Denver. We decided to sell our home the following year and move across the country. Yet, here it is 12 yrs later- what has changed since Columbine happened? Not nearly enough.
Thanks for sharing Nancy! I hate that you guys have left Colorado. I just moved here 2 yeras ago. I suppose the reality is until each of us begins reaching out and caring for our fellow man, we can move anywhere we want and not see much change! Thanks for the comment! 🙂
Not nearly enough is a good way to put it. I am so glad to see that it is staying on the forefront of the mind of more people for a longer period of time. That is encouraging.
Jeff – Columbine took someone I was very close to and loved very much in a very roundabout way. He was a medical responder, and the tragedy undid him. Within just a couple of years he was gone, using alcohol to numb the horrors. I think that what happened there, in Aurora, Arizona Newtown, and so many others is just symptomatic of a much larger problem. Passing a law making gun ownership illegal will not stop the killing. We need to back up and change the way we deal with one another, use love, conversation, something to build a community where we all work together for the greater good, not take each other out. It’s not the guns, it’s much larger than that and we all have a role to play in trying to find a solution. Just my .02 🙂 Thanks for a GREAT thought provoking post.
Melissa…Thanks for the comment. I hate to hear about your friend. It’s sad that for so many people, tragedies like you mentioned are quickly forgotten; we have become numb to the valur of life. But I agree with you that its each of our responsibility to reach out to our neighbors, those we work with, and anyone we come in contact with and share love with them. Thanks so much for sharing with me!
There are some very difficult to reach people from what I have observed. There are some who have been given much in life. For those willing to listen and able to delve deeply, speak out and act from the heart, now is the time. Now is always the time to give life and the greatest challenges our all. The easy to reach folks can do just that- reach each other in ways we never could before. I am very excited about the relatively new tools we have and what the potential is for them (social media tools).
Agreed. This blog challenge among others is getting me more pumped! GREAT CHANGE IS COMING!
Very good post! I think we have lost touch along the way and I don’t think people care as much any more and it makes me sad. I grew up at a time where people looked out for each other and you knew your neighbors.
I agree Vanessa! Today it seems like veryone keeps to themselves; most don’t get out to know their neighbors and avoid getting involved in anyway. I have hope that love will prevail in our country and people will have up and once again begin reaching out to one another! I appreciate your comment! THANKS!
Let’s turn this around! We can now connect with and know neighbors anywhere around the globe. We have some amazing possibilities with social media and caring people who can connect like never before.
Again…totally agree!
Divine, I agree completely. There is nothing I can add. You write so well. I have shared your post on FB and Twitter. (Visiting from the UBC.) Blessings–Kebba (Rev. Kebba)
Thank you Kebba…I have always wanted to write but never had the courage! But God is giving me the strength and the call and I am listening! Thanks so much for the compliment and affirmation! God Bless!
jeff, you are always astounding me with your ability to grow and raise the bar for yourself, which inspires me to raise the bar on myself and in my relationship with christ. passion for others and christ and giving back to community needs to outweigh passion for material things, being cool, being hard and tough and doing what only feels good when you want to do it. we have become weak as a society due to the things you mentioned above in your posts. i do have faith in humanity because goog people like you are putting out these words of action and wisdom. keep up the great work and may god bless you and your family each and every day brother.
It is ALWAYS great to hear from a true friend! Thanks so much Craig for your words of support; God knows I have a long way to go be we only get one chance at this thing called life and I feel we will be judged on the eternal impacts we make while we are here! Hope you can join us for one of our Divine Impacts Conference Calls we hold every Monday Night! See you my friend and thanks for the comment!
I love reading these atrilecs because they’re short but informative.
I must say that I have a lot to say about this topic, but I will be brief. Humanity is lost it seems. I am saddened by news reports and media details of all the violence against others. I am not sure how we should go about fixing it without helping the underlying problem…people.
Great Post,
Wyn~
Wyn, Well Said! Every problem as far as we goo back has one thing in common; people! When we start caring about one another again then maybe we can move forward; by like you said not sure how to go about fixing it; other than keeping truth out front ne matter how unpopular it is and being willing to be ridiculed for standing of for the truth! Thanks so mych for your post and kind words!