Is Gun Control The Answer?
It seems like every night on the news, somebody is getting shot. Many people are fighting for gun control, just to stop all this killing. But will it really help?
In the mid 1970s I was stationed on board a ship up in Alaska. And what’s more we were allowed to have our own personal guns. But only if they were locked up in the ship’s armory. In port, we were allowed to take our guns out to do some shooting, if we would like. For those who didn’t have a gun, well believe it not, you were allowed to burrow the ship’s military issued .45 caliber pistol. Much like borrowing a book from the library. The ship’s rifles were off limits, since they were M-16s. Even tough they look similar, do not confuse the AR-15s you see on the news with the M-16. The AR-15 basically is no more than a fancy semi automatic hunting rifle. The M-16s are full automatic and are basically hand held machine guns.
One day while we were in our home port of Kodiak Alaska, a few friends and I decided we wanted to do some shooting. From the ship’s armory, I got my .22 rifle, one friend got his rifle and two others got 2 of the ship’s .45 pistols. On the way to town we stopped to get something to eat. Nobody cared. Later we were walking through downtown Kodiak, again fully armed. And again nobody cared. We went into a bank to cash our paychecks we got earlier that day. Again in the bank, the four of us were fully armed and yet, nobody feared us. I was the first one to get to the teller. While holding my rifle, I handed her my paycheck. She asked, “What are you boys up to?” Me, “Oh we’re just going up in the hills to do some shooting.” “That’s nice. Have fun.” After the four of us walked up to the teller window and cashed our checks, we left. Walking through main street and out of town.
My Dad told me that when he was in high school, he bought a gun through J.C. Penny. I if remember correctly. He ordered it through the catalog and it was delivered to him by U.S. mail. No licensed gun dealer needed. So… what is different between back then and today? It’s not the guns.
Matthew 24:3 Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?
Matthew 24:10 And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other.
Matthew 24:12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.
You can read the whole chapter here.
Guns haven’t changed. People have. Even some Christians don’t love like we should anymore.
Revelation 2:4-5 “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first![b] Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.
I wonder if this world has so many problems because we Christians failed to make disciples of others as Jesus said in Mathew 28:18-20. So many of us are living so much like the rest world, it’s sometimes difficult to tell us apart.
What needs to be changed are not gun laws or even guns. After all, I do not believe shooting people is the number one way of murdering people. The number one way of murdering is through abortions. The thing we need to change is, our heart. Passing more gun laws to stop all the killing, is as effective as simply putting a bandage on a compound fracture.
I must add that with abortions laws becoming more restrictive in different states, we Christians, must be willing to adopt more kids and help more mothers in need.
And those are my thoughts.
My Thoughts 