Put Away the Guns Already--my heart is breaking!

 These pictures are apparently a new advertisement for the “latest bulletproof” technology available to schools, parents, and children.  So you know, it’s also touted as “protective gear” for events like tornadoes. 

In the wake of more gun-related violence, hearts again are broken.  Not just any violence, like an angry outburst or an enraged response of someone hurt or spurned; instead insidious violence at a school.  I said to the congregation I serve in my sermon this past Sunday, after learning about another university shooting on the west coast—“prepare yourselves, there will be others.”  I didn’t think it would come in less than two days. 

I’m told that since the horrific day when the world learned the name of Columbine because of the violence that happened there, that there have been 149 gun-related events.  There were 75 in the 14 years between Columbine and the shooting at the elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut; and in the not quite two years since Newtown, another 74 events of gun-related violence. 

My heart is breaking.  After this week’s news, I found this picture circulating on the internet; part of a news report on an advertising campaign for a new kind of protective body armor that can be deployed in our schools.  My heart is breaking, because this kind of response is simply confirmation that we seem more than prepared to accept more death, more innocent deaths, more harm perpetrated by individuals and groups.  And we’d rather accept death in order to protect the rights to bear whatever kinds of weapons we deem fit, knowing for certain that this right will result in more deaths.  My heart is breaking. 

Here’s the thing.  While we cling to this right to have and use guns that so many see as most necessary—as if freedom itself depends on a loaded weapon with a finger on the trigger—we seem to have no view of Jesus and his ministry. 

Jesus never used a weapon of any kind against other human beings.  

Jesus, I’m convinced, would never hold a gun against any other human being for any reason. 

As Elias Chacour says in the inscription in each book he signs, “God does not kill.”  Further, Jesus asks his followers to put their weapons away when he is threatened with arrest: “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” 

Of course, a sword is a far cry from a gun or an assault rifle.  As some have observed, would the perpetrators of these violent incidents have used swords instead of guns, the death and damage likely would have been less and less costly.  No, Jesus doesn’t favor swords over guns.  Jesus clearly sides with beating swords and guns into plowshares. 

Last week, I watched a recorded segment of the Tonight Show with David Letterman in which the host, Letterman, in an interview with Anderson Cooper, declared in references to these shootings: “For the love of Christ, when are we going to do something about this nonsense.”  I don’t know about Mr. Letterman’s religious leanings or even if he is a practicing Christian; but it sounded like a siren-call for those of us who claim the name and life of Jesus. 

I don’t know how to practically go about beating our swords and guns into plowshares.  Abolishing the 2^nd Amendment is likely not a political or reasonable solution.  We live too much in the shadow of guns; but hoping or aiming to ban them altogether hardly seems a winning possibility.  Jesus didn't banish swords; but he did say, put them away. 

To those who so vehemently defend the 2^nd Amendment as if we cannot ever imagine reversing it, I ask you to consider the observation that the original constitution declares the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  These days, the 2^nd Amendment right to bear arms and the resulting violence seems to stand stridently in conflict with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  Even more menacing, increasingly it's innocent children who are victimized by this gun violence enabled by our zest for firearms. 

For me, while it is my right as a citizen of our great nation to have a gun, buy a gun, handle a gun, use a gun, I will not—for any reason.  And in order to save the lives of others, I believe a Christian witness worthy of Jesus, would be for all of us who claim his name to do no less than to put away our guns.  To voluntarily lock them up—effectively making them useless instruments of violence—figuratively beating them into plowshares. 

One of my Facebook friends, Aric Clark, observed in the aftermath of the time before last with one of these shootings, where pictures were circulating of people carrying assault rifles to places like Wal-Mart: 

If you own and openly carry an assault rifle in public spaces you are intentionally sending the message that you are capable and willing to cause massive bodily harm and death to other human beings. It is not irrational for other people to fear you. It is actually what you want. You are a dog baring your teeth. A gorilla beating your chest. Don't pretend it is innocuous to wave an assault rifle around. It is an open threat. 

These days, it simply stands to reason that ANY GUN is a threat.  And that EVERY GUN sends the message that the one holding it is capable—and willing if necessary—to cause massive bodily harm and death to others.  And even when that gun is in the hands of one of the “good guys”—like a soldier or a police officer—the threat is simple, “comply with what I say or I have the right to injure or even kill you.” 

Guns aren’t keeping us safe.  They trick us into believing that we don’t have to rely completely on God’s goodness.  They trick us into believing that the power we create for ourselves is better than God’s provision.  They trick us into thinking that we can have whatever we want without consequences if we can just hold the power in our hands and demonstrate it a time or two for others.  Like, “if the bad guys know we can shoot and kill them, they won’t be tempted to rob the bank.”  We feel the need to protect ourselves, but in that desperate attempt to feel safe, we put others AND OURSELVES at more risk. 

And instead of releasing the grip on the weapons, it will be the plan of many to simply try and clothe the would-be innocent victims in some sort of body armor.  Have fun playing on the playground under a bullet-proof blanket, kids! 

Even that can’t stem the tide; and in the meantime, we’ll live in fear.  How many days till the next shooting?  Since Columbine, the number of days is down to about one shooting per week.  Like Sabbath—one in every seven! 

Stop already.  STOP ALREADY!  My heart is breaking.  The losses are far too real--and unnecessary.  The chances are, the violence will only get closer and closer to home.  74 more events since Newtown; 149 episodes since Columbine. 

I can already begin to count when my own children must take their turn as victims.  Does it take that before I join the chorus—“for the love of Christ, why didn’t we when we had the chance.” 

In fact, why does it take any victim at all. 

Can’t we find a way, for the love of brothers and sisters and care for the world to simply put the guns away.  It’s about 2-3 days until another shooting.