Tossing gasoline into a fire causes an explosion of flame! Cultural fires are aflame in our nation which are often exasperated by tossing guns into the flames.
TIME magazine reported in its’ 1 April issue, p. 38, that in 1,000 investigations between 2012-2017, the number of actual white supremist attacks more than doubled from 14 to 31, according to the University of Maryland’s Global Terrorism Database. The Anti-Defamation League attributes 73% of extremist related killings in the U.S. from 2009-2018 to the far-right. Recently, F.B.I. Director, Christopher Wray, reported that “White supremacy is a persistent, pervasive threat to U.S. security.” The Southern Poverty Law Center reports similar findings. Guns are the usual threat instruments and killing machines.
Recently, THE HUFFINGTON POST reported on the Violence Against Women Act of 1994. The U.S. House is proposing a revision to close the so-called “boyfriend loophole” by baring those convicted of assaulting, abusing or stalking a dating partner or those subject to a court restraining order from buying or owning a firearm.
Under current federal law, those convicted of domestic violence can lose their guns if they are or were formerly married to their victims, live with their victims, have a child with their victim or are a guardian or parent of their victim.
A few days ago, the ex-husband of Stephanie Miller shot her dead with an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle in a Phildelphia suburban Wawa store. Her ex had been previously arrested after being accused of threatening to kill Stephanie. Stephanie had previously been granted a protective order against her husband which had expired.
In Genesis, Abel needed a protective order. Cain was jealous and envious of God’s favoritism of Abel’s offering. Cain’s response? Kill Abel. Seeking to justify his act, Cain asked God, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” It seems Stephanie’s ex felt justified in killing her. Could he have believed “Since I am not her favorite, her life means nothing. I have the right to kill her.” Girl gone. Interestingly, God’s Commandment of “You shall not murder-You shall not kill” happened in the next book, Exodus 20. Even God saw the need for laws!
Rightly focused gun laws can lessen and in many cases prevent such threats and tragedies, while respecting Second Amendment rights. Such laws are the Universal Criminal Background Check Bill and Red Flag Bill (Extreme Risk Protective Order). (See my previous blog titled “Angles of Attack” for a full description of these bills. For the sake of the sanctity of human life, to honor ALL people as created in the Image of God, we within the Christian community ought to demand these laws be passed. I urge you to contact your state senators and house members and urge their passage. Flames do not need more gasoline! Too often guns are like gasoline.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Ron Letnes