David, I’m all for the party moving to the center to win elections. But i have to admit that the capitulation of progressive politicians on gun control is depressing. As a political matter, I get it. It makes sense. But why is it so hard for members of Congress from rural areas to understand the need for gun control in urban areas? Why does their normal proclivity to let lcoal governments decide these things suddenly go out the window when it comes to a city trying to deal with handgun violence in its midst. Urban lawmakers vote for their dang farm subsidies. Why cant they let us have our gun control laws?

Dear CC: I too don’t want to live in La-La-Land as far as political realities. But there seems to be so much fear of Joe Six-Pack voter, as if he (or Jane Six-Pack) can’t understand the difference between hunting rifles and an unregulated flow of easy hanguns and assualt weapons. Nor is this solely some rural working class concern, as many might assume. There are few good studies out there (that I could find) on the topic, but the couple of poll surveys available indicate that secular-minded folk are as against gun laws as religious folk. Another myth shot down.

It would seem that the hatred of a number of leading conservative voices might have inspired the killer.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/jul/28/church-shooting-police-find-manifesto-suspects-car/
“Adkisson targeted the church, Still wrote in the document obtained by WBIR-TV, Channel 10, “because of its liberal teachings and his belief that all liberals should be killed because they were ruining the country, and that he felt that the Democrats had tied his country’s hands in the war on terror and they had ruined every institution in America with the aid of media outlets.”
Adkisson told Still that “he could not get to the leaders of the liberal movement that he would then target those that had voted them in to office.”"
With so much anger and hatred being generated in the conservative movement, I honestly am surprised there haven’t been more attacks like this.

The author quotes 30k deaths per year due to gun violence, is that the real number or is that inclusive of accideantal, non violent deaths. Also, this is smaller than the number of car deaths/year, are we to stop driving (knowing full well some in government want to engineer us out of our cars)?

Dear Brian: The 30k figure includes everything from suicides to accidental shootings which, I’d say, could safely be charatcerized as “violent.” That doesn’t really affect the point about gun control and safety and accessiblity.
As far as car safety goes, your analogy limps. Much could be done to improve car safety, and mass transit. But cars and guns are not analagous tools.

To a certain extent I do agree with some form of gun control. However not to the point where it stops me, a law abiding citizen from owning my own gun inside my home. What exactly does your idea of gun control mean? Criminals already have access to guns and they terrorize those who don’t or won’t shoot back. No, Jesus would never pack heat. He’s our prime example to follow. “Yet the Bible does say that we (christians) should be “wise as serpents but harmless as doves”. Therefore it is prudent to want to protect a congregation from influences of Satan. Paul tells Timothy that in the last days perilous times would occur. We are there now. When you threaten a mans’ family, his property and life you then get what you deserve. YOU WANT GUN CONTROL. THEN THIS ENTIRE COUNTRY NEEDS TO RETURN BACK TO GOD AND RIGHTEOUSNESS. 2CHRONICLES 7:14 IF MY PEOPLE, WHICH ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, SHALL HUMBLE THEMSELVES, AND PRAY, AND SEEK MY FACE, AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, THEN WILL I HEAR FROM HEAVEN AND WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN AND WILL HEAL THEIR LAND.
But not until. Alot of people claim to be Christians but never refer directly to the word of God for direction and instruction in what he says would alleviate a situation. I’m quitting I’m not through.

Brian Whalen,
“Also, this is smaller than the number of car deaths/year, are we to stop driving.”
As David pointed out above, guns and cars are not analagous. Although accidents can and will happen with both, the purpose of the car is transportation. The purpose of a gun is to kill.
Nathaniel,
“However not to the point where it stops me, a law abiding citizen from owning my own gun inside my home.”
I don’t think anyone is trying to stop people from owning guns inside their own home. But the lunacy is when gun lovers strive for (and succeed in) getting laws passed that enables them to carry a gun to work – most recently and illustrative of the point – to DISNEYLAND no less. Can you think of a less appropriate place to take a firearm?
And what about guns in schools? Forget Columbine at your peril. Recently, a 14 year old killed a classmate with a gun right in front of fellow students. Poor lad had been asked to be a “Valentine” by another boy (yet another example of homophobia-driven hate-violence). Some of the blogosphere reaction from “Christians” say the dead boy “deserved” it.
This love affair with a machine who’s sole purpose is to kill is madness.

Human Rights dictate that we have the right to defend ourselves and in that right we are protected by the right to bear arms. But like every other right, it ends at the nose of another. You have to pass a test, be knowledgeable in the law and are required to abide by all traffic laws in order to drive a car. Yet I have found that the restrictions on gun ownership and operation is no where close to the severity of automobile operation.
I just can’t understand how a “civilized” nation can put so little regard to gun safety and the welfare of it’s people as America while not using venues to restrict, defend and define gun usage. I believe that we all have the right to defend ourselves, but we should be held to the same accountability as any other “dangerous” tool.
I am sure that if Jesus were to walk onto the scene today, He would say put down your gun as he told peter to put aside the sword.

Jesus said that there would be times like these which would signal the beginning of the end, when he would appear.
If we could ever get back to the basics; you know, back to God. And I mean the father of Christ. Every since we became independent of God this country has been on a downward spiral. Everything and anything goes. No one likes for their indiscretions (sin) to be called out. We try to justify what we do or what we want to become by saying, I do it or watch it in my own home or I was born this way. We accept so many lies and then strategically with poor science and research validate it. But what does the Bible say about such practices, behavior and thought. I specifically am refering to the New Testament. It clearly outlines what is acceptable behaviour to God, without killing sodomites or anyone else. While everyone has their picks and chooses about what they will accept and obey it’s either all or none at all. Okay I’m finished. It just vexes me to see how far this country as turned to the left. And liberty is good, however Paul tells us not to let our liberty be used for an occassion far sin. Yet, what do I know?????????????

Nathaniel, the Bible states clearly that “sodomites” should be stoned along with lots of other people who didn’t fit the mores at the time. The Bible is replete with commandments from God that this or that group should be killed along with their animals. What kind of model is that for living in a complex world?
And your hiding behind the New Testament doesn’t give you cover, because Jesus never said a thing about gay people. Jesus did, however, have a lot to say about loving one’s neighbor and God, not judging, taking care of orphans and widoes, and lots of other things that too many Christians these days choose to ignore.
The problem in this country isn’t with the “left.” Rather, right-wing Christians have for too long been imposing their narrow view of morality, religion, social responsibility, and politics on the rest of the country. It’s not liberal or divergent views that are destroying our nation – it’s intolerance and the attempted suppression of divergent views that are destroying us. The folks at Tennessee Valley didn’t kill anybody – they were killed by a nutcase with a right-wing library who didn’t like them espousing beliefs and practices that he didn’t agree with. You are right about one thing – “what do you know?”

Here is a perfect example of someone who listens to the likes of Ann Coulter and Michael (Wiener) Savage and takes their hate-filled rhetoric to its logical conclusion.
It’s depressingly ironic the similarities between the far-right talking heads and the Jihadists they condemn.

Nathaniel,
“Every since we became independent of God this country has been on a downward spiral.”
Would you be so kind as to tell us when exactly America became “independent of God”? Or, when it was ‘dependent on God? All this time, I thought there was supposed to be freedom of religion in America. That would of necessity mean that there must be freedom from religion too. God, spare us from some of the ‘religions’ (or should that be the religiosity) of some of your followers.
“Everything and anything goes.”
Nonsense.
“No one likes for their indiscretions (sin) to be called out.”
True. Partly because we’ve been admonished that only those without sin get to cast the first stone (‘calling out the “sins” of others’). That ain’t your job, Nathaniel. It’s already taken, and by One far more qualified for the position.
You are clearly speaking of homosexuality (though you don’t seem to have the guts to say it directly, couching it in terms like “their indiscretions” and the smarmy reference to people saying “I was born this way”). Here’s a hint: you say it’s about “what we do or what we want” instead of referring to what we are. If God were so down on homosexuals, you’d think God wouldn’t have created so many of us. Another hint: it isn’t a “lie” when gays say they were born this way. Speaking of “poor science”, you might actually want to read a few science books instead of relying on quasi-’righteous’ religious clichees.
“But what does the Bible say about such practices, behavior and thought.”
Well, it says a lot about the bearing of false witness. It says a lot about not judging others. It says a lot about doing to others what you would have done to yourself. Perhaps we should all start smears and innuendoes to make our points – then you’d be getting done to you what you so clearly do to others.
“It clearly outlines what is acceptable behaviour to God, without killing sodomites or anyone else.”

Nathaniel:
Following advise in the Bible solves nothing. How many folks were killed by God reigning his rath on somebody or a group etc. because He was ticked off? That book is full of violence, rape, adultry, incest wars etc. They may not have had guns then, but they found unique ways of doing folks in. How is that any example of how to live? The NT may be a bit better, but it isn’t a perfect example either. Going back to a god solves nothing…lots of wars have been fought because of that belief and the feeling that “God is on our side”, lots of people have been killed because they didn’t believe in someones version of a god…The Crusades “forced” conversions…all in the name of getting back to god. I don’t think so. Getting with God wouldn’t have stopped the nutcase that hit the Unitarian church in Knoxville or any the other nutcases in the past.

Nathanial, one other thing…very simple. Pagans say:
“First do no harm”. Simple, but not always easy. Good advise.

Proudbutscaredliberal said:
“And your hiding behind the New Testament doesn’t give you cover, because Jesus never said a thing about gay people. Jesus did, however, have a lot to say about loving one’s neighbor and God, not judging, taking care of orphans and widoes, and lots of other things that too many Christians these days choose to ignore.”
Jesus addressed sin in its many forms, which includes homosexuality, adultery, murder, lying, drunkenness, etc. Other than blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, He did not elevate one sin above another – sin is sin. And Paul specifically mentions homosexuality in his litany of sins in 1 Cor. 6, but does not dwell on that particular sin – it is just one of the sexual sins listed, along with adultery, etc. The important thing is that Jesus cam to save us from ALL of our sins, regardless of what they are. He has called us to turn from our sins and to live for Him. That is what we as Christians should focus on – not what sin is worse than another.

One problem with trying to equate restrictions on driving with gun control is that the 2nd amendment specifically guarantees the right to keep and bear arms – there is no equivalent Constitutional right to drive a car.
And keep in mind that without the 2nd Amendment, none of the other rights would be secure. Without an armed populace, a despotic government could easily take away the rights to speech, to assembly, to freedom of religion – because who could oppose them? That idea, more than any other, was the driving force behind including the 2nd Amendment in the Bill of Rights in the first place.

Hello. And Bye.