Gun Control Recommendation

Following Vice President Biden’s group study President Obama will be presenting his recommendations. Some things he can do because he’s the president and some will net congressional approval. The Huffington Post gives a good summary of what will be recommended, see: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/16/obama-gun-control-assault-weapons-ban_n_2484368.html?igoogle=1.

This seems a pretty well thought out process one that most citizens can and do support despite the rhetoric of some congressional members and the NRA. See: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/01/16/the-morning-plum-the-increasingly-isolated-gop/?wprss=rss_homepage. The NRA leadership seems much more akin to arms producers than to public interest and even its own membership. They make absurd spurious arguments called Obama a hypocrite having secret service support while not wanting armed guards at schools. Another case of sloganism versus reasoned logic folk of that ilk use.

Now making a biblical case for gun control and things like that are difficult to absurd; would early religious leaders have advocated for sword control? And there is plenty of warfare and bickering in the Old Testament. Personally to try a get a grip on these issues I go back to the bit, “What would Jesus do?” Frankly it is impossible for me to see Jesus as a member of the NRA; nor can I see Jesus as a collector of arms of any type, nor can I visualize him being a hunter; fishing, yeah, I can see that.

While it is true Jesus took a whip to drive the money changers out of the temple, scripture doesn’t say or even imply he whipped anybody in the process. Tempered violence.

But Jesus’ love and concern for people, all people is clear in the biblical record. While Jesus seems to eschew the world of politics in his day, his sentiments are clearly for “entitlement programs” as folk like to say today; I think Jesus talks more about caring for brothers and sisters. Folk who seem to see themselves as “self-made” people are filled with hubris and lacking in humility; delusional.

What I think is clear is Jesus is counter-culture, not matter what that culture may be; God’s kingdom values versus human kingdoms values. Jesus preached good news, love for fellow human beings. We don’t see a lot of love being expressed in today’s political figures. In the past it did work that way from time to time as political figures would argue like mad on the floor of congress but be buddies following; would that we would have that type of mentality today.

It saddens me to hear folk who obviously love their families and seem pretty good in most parts of their lives become hateful and hurtful and even demonic when it comes to politics (including the politics of religion.) But folk have been doing that sort of thing for years; we compartmentalize our lives as though our religious beliefs have nothing to do with our political or everyday activities.

As far as gun control as it is going to be presented, I think Jesus would approve and even want it stronger. Or perhaps he would just ignore it and promote his vision for a redeemed humankind. Just one’s man’s opinion.