In the wake of the tragic mass shooting in Oregon, several key issues demand attention. The perpetrator, according to online postings, sought notoriety. Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin deserves commendation for encouraging the media to refrain from naming the killer. Keeping these disturbed individuals relatively anonymous can help discourage future copycats.
Another crucial aspect is finding a place for the Christian Worldview, which is increasingly being squeezed out of the public arena. Reintegrating this perspective may contribute to societal safety.
Blaming guns for murders is as illogical as blaming automobiles for collisions, matches for forest fires, or airplanes for terrorist attacks. Millions of items in the hands of depraved people can turn deadly. Pizza can cause obesity, leading to heart disease and death, but we don’t advocate eliminating it!
I support weapons in the hands of good and honorable citizens, and banning them from those who’ve proven to be destructive. However, in a free society, predicting the future behavior of closet sociopaths is nearly impossible, let alone taking preemptive strikes without violating the constitution.
Drawing from personal experience, while working undercover, I was approached on three separate occasions by street thugs hoping to victimize me. These incidents were unrelated to the undercover operation. Had I been unarmed, the outcome would have been different. Every year, nearly one million potential violent crimes are thwarted by good people bearing weapons, yet this is rarely mentioned. This highlights the importance of defensive gun use.
The burden of proof rests upon the government to convict violent offenders (if they are caught). Prior to conviction, they have the same freedoms as the rest of us. Since the lawless among us will always take advantage of those freedoms, we must ensure citizens can defend their safety. It is inconceivable to believe that law enforcement can provide private security to the masses.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23).
-Jim