Because of the various gun shootings, Mayor Bloomberg of New York City and New York State governor Cuomo instituted and proposed new gun laws intended to close loopholes in the current laws.
The gun control issue, like many other political issues (such as universal health care and abortion) is one that divides American Christians along racial & ethnic lines. Because of the Second Amendment of the Bill of Rights in the American Constitution, many Christians in the Conservative Right consider many gun control laws as encroachments on their civil rights and liberties and a violation of their second amendment rights.
This violation is often equated as anti-Biblical when the Bible is subtly equated with the Constitution. Bible verses praising the rule of law are often used, although many of these verses were used by the apostles to guide the already-persecuted Christians on how to live safely without making their sect noticeable to the authorities.
Verses such as the following have been cited by Conservative Christians against those they consider rebellious or to uphold the status quo or the idea of the “Rule of Law” when challenging Left or Progressive politics such as immigration amnesty:
Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority. 1 Peter 2:13
Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. 1 Peter 2:17
Fear the LORD and the king, my son, and do not join with the rebellious. Proverbs 24:21
Because American patriotism is so intermixed with the Bible, the Constitution, also, has taken on the aura of a God-given document created by flawless Founding Fathers who had insight and intelligence almost to a prophetic degree. Indeed, the spirituality, religion, and intentions of the writers of the Constitution is often a bone of contention in American politics with the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" seen by both the Conservative Christian Right and the Progressive Christian Left as an inalienable right endowed by man's Creator. The question often seems to be who and how "life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness" are defined. In the age of the Founding Fathers, those inalienable rights were not given to women, Native Americans, or slaves. For instance, while the Christian Left considers healthcare an inalienable right, most in the Christian Evangelical Right do not think so. Likewise, many in the Christian Left consider that the right to bear arms was placed in the Bill of Rights of the American Constitution as a response to the Revolutionary War with England and was created to protect Americans from warring invaders and not from each other.
Moreover, there is an extreme prophetic Christian movement that believes the Antichrist, (or Obama), or China, are preparing to conquer the United States. Many of these groups consider President Barack Obama a secret Muslim, a communist, or a secret Illuminati member who has infiltrated the government and stolen the presidency in order to destroy America. Thus these survivalist groups are ready to do exploits against him and to do battle to save the US.
One verse often used here is:
And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. Daniel 11:32
This extreme survivalist group intends to flee to the mountains when the order of the antichrist is given. Thus, in many ways, the christian prophetic survivalist movement is tainted by anti Islam fears and racism that seems influenced by the narrative frame of the Turner Diaries, a racist fantasy novel about White Americans using their guns to protect the homeland from rampaging dark skinned minorities.
However, Christians who belong to minority groups such as Native Americans, blacks, Latinos, generally do not have this romantic view of the gun. As patriotic as their white counterparts, they have seen the decimation in their communities by gang warfare and urban crime. Moreover, during American history many non-white minorities have been killed by whites. Consequently, and predictably, white Conservative Christians and Conservative Christians from minority communities have used different bible verses about gun control.
The Conservative Chritian Right often use bible verses such as:
"If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed. If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt for his bloodshed. He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft” (Exodus 22:2-3).
Then He said to them, "But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: 'And He was numbered with the transgressors.' For the things concerning Me have an end." So they said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." And He said to them, "It is enough." Luke 22:36-38:
“Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon. Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built…” (Nehemiah 4:17-18).
Those verses often deal with the right to self defense. The christian left will use verses such as:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 2 Corinthians 10:4
The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. Proverbs 21:31
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. Psalm 20:7
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD. Isaiah 31:1
And safety Psalms such as Psalm 91.
These verses show the uncertainty of human weapons and the necessity of pacifism
And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. Luke 6:29
In addition while those on the Christian Conservative Right point out the crime done outside the home, and declare their need to be safe from outsiders --young urban men-- with illegal guns, Christians on the Left point out that almost twice as many gun deaths occur inside the house by legal gun-owners, through suicide, accidental shootings, and domestic violence -- women, children, and the elderly. They also claim the Rule of Law in order to close the many dangerous loopholes in the gun laws.
For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house. Micah 7:6
They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." Luke 12:53
Beware of your friends; do not trust your brothers. For every brother is a deceiver, and every friend a slanderer. Jeremiah 9:4
Other verses that connect to the gun issue include verses on accidents, special city officers, food hunting, and manslaughter such as:
If it wasn't done intentionally, but God let it happen, the killer should flee to a place I will set aside for you. Exodus 21:13
When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence. Deuteronomy 22:8
He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand. Ezekiel 9:1
Considering the above verses and the gun statistics, it is Biblical to have some self-defense. However, care must be taken to use such weapons lawfully, legally, and without hatred toward any group.
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