Do We Need More Gun Control - Essay Example

Do We Need More Gun Control? The issue on gun control has become one of the most litigious and contentious issues in America currently resulting into intensive debates. However, the battle over gun control is now being undergoing exhaustive media campaigns from the opposing and proposing sides of the political fields to manipulate public views and to put pressure on policy makers. Therefore, the phrase “gun control” according to the United States means any act employed by the federal government, the state or local governments to regulate the legislation, the vending, purchasing, safety, as well as the use of handguns and other categories of firearms by individual citizens. The debate on gun control escalated in the United States as a result of different massacres carried out on innocent civilians, for example, the 1999 Columbine High School massacre, the 2007 shootings at Virginia Tech and other subsequent shootings in various schools has escalated the debate on the use of gun among the citizens. However, there is a controversy between the Christians and the non-Christians on gun control, thus the aim of this paper is to highlight the ethical perspectives regarding gun control in the United States. Hence, the questions many ask, “do the US citizens need more Gun Control, and is it the Governments ethical responsibility to legislate it, and what is the Christians view on this issue?” The Bible was written decades before any form of guns were invented, therefore, the term “gun control” cannot be allocated anywhere in the bible despite the fact that the Bible reports several accounts of wars, battles, and the use of weapons in addition to self-defense, and the proper mindset with these things. In Mark 13:7 and James 4:1, the conflicts are highlighted as unavoidable elements of living in a collapsed world and weapons are essential parts of the conflict. In the bible, weapons were used for personal protection therefore, owning a weapon for self-defense is never condemned in the Bible, actually, it was cited in a positive light by Jesus Himself on one occasion (Esv Study Bible Luke 22:35-38) . Debates over guns control or how much to control them, depend on political, ethical and philosophical arguments, and not moral ones, however, this does not mean that there is no moral element regarding this issue (Feinberg, Paul and Aldous, 18). Apparently, the gun itself is a moral object that can be used either for good or for malevolence, however, the most significant issue is the integrity of the person using the gun, and that is most of the time the missing deliberation in the gun control arguments. Out of this, contradiction arises between naturalism and ant- naturalism on the issue regarding morality and its origin as well as and the ownership of guns since naturalism finds no god or governing meaning in reality, but it’s at a rhetorical drawback to theism when people try to justify their moral perceptions (Naturalism_Org). In spite of some sinners, using guns to carry out wicked actions does not imply that guns are the predicament, the sinful actions are the problem, and that is an ethical and divine issue. Ever since the very start of humankind, people have been murdering each other with and without weapons (see Genesis 4). Getting rid of a particular weapon from distribution may make murder more complex although by no means unattainable As far as the Bible is concerned, the use of guns is a matter of personal sincerity in which there is nothing unspiritual about owning a gun or knowing how to use one. There is nothing wrong with defending oneself or loved ones, even if it involves the use of weapons, thus, we do not need to act as if there is never a need for guns, however, pointing a gun at an individual should constantly be a last option. Therefore, people should seek to soothe threats without violence whenever possible. Nehemiah, for instance, when reconstructing the walls of Jerusalem, had the people work on the walls while armed, moreover, the builders walked about with swords on their sides, and trumpeters were nearby to give a war call if danger reared its head. In addition, the weapons were not there just for show, and Nehemiah told the people that when they hear the trumpet the people are to rally where they are called and God would fight for them. This is a poetic way implying that God would be on their side, and even with that thinking that God was on their side, Nehemiah and the Jews refused to take off their weapon at any time while their defenses lay so bare (Nehemiah 4:17-23). However, there are areas in the Bible in which the people of God are badly off since they do not own weapons. On the other hand, the Philistines ensured that blacksmiths in Israel were inadequate so that they would not make weapons, as a regular practice among enemies when they wanted to make sure the people were subdued and incapable of defending themselves. A biblical principle to consider is that “all who draw the sword will die by the sword” (Matthew 26:52), but Jesus said this to Peter when he attempted to escalate a reckless “defense” of Jesus against the crowd that had appeared to take Him into custody. Peter’s actions were not only ineffective against such a large crowd armed with swords and clubs but his rash behavior disproved Jesus’ subservient attitude, and worked against the accomplishment of Scripture in which Jesus said that here is time for war and time for making peace of which Peter confused. Christianity supports individual freedom, however, when Scripture does not evidently tackle a particular issue, an individual is entitled to the freedom of choice. For instance, America has previously cuddled the perception of individual freedom that reverberates with this principle, and the founding documents assure wide freedoms concerning firearms and that people should be allowed to carry their guns even in cars for incase they need them to defend themselves (Keep and Bear Arms). Nevertheless, in Matthew 5:9, Jesus declares a blessing on those trying to make peace, and relate it to the matter of gun control. The scheme is that guns are adverse to peace and this may be more of a philosophical or political view than a theological one; however, there is nothing theological, or even logical that connects guns to inadequate peace; but at some point guns assist in maintaining civil peace. Likewise, free gun control by civilians equals to more homicides and suicides, for instance, if a person has a gun and is not in good terms with his/her neighbor, that person is will trigger a gun and kill the person he/she is in conflict with. This is not really the main use of guns; instead, they should be used by the right people and for rightful reasons. However, the ethical point of view pits the right to bear arms against the protection of citizens and prevention of crime and with the authority God has entrusted to it, the government has the right to permit or forbid gun ownership to whatsoever degree it considers right (Holmes 14). Accountability includes being answerable for financial harms in cases where a firearm is left in a disgustingly remiss fashion so that an ignorant child comes across it and uses it wrongly. The way out is not to oblige that trigger locks be used on a gun to circumvent being subject to such a lawsuit, but some could disagree that this is nothing more than an application of the Biblical obligation that a balustrade be placed around the flat rooftop of a house where people might assemble. However, trigger locks are to be utilized with empty guns that could be similar as needing a paling all over a slanting roof where people do not assemble. Therefore, as citizens, we are called to adhere to whatsoever gun control laws the government sets up, and this is not a statement on the wisdom of gun control. Hence, there are good reasons to permit law-abiding citizens to own guns whereby guns are not the problem, but sinful people are the problem (Lott 15-17). Conclusion The wisdom of the makers of the Constitution is dependable with the teachings of the Bible, and tools of defense are supposed to be spread all over the nation, and not concentrated in the hands of the central government. In a religious country, morality rules each man through the Holy Spirit working within and the civil government has no effect on demanding for a monopoly force, but the civil government that requires such a monopoly is a danger to the lives, sovereignty, and property of its citizens. Additionally, the belief that only a threat can prevent people from hauling guns is used to authenticate the government is having a monopoly of force. The perception that individuals cannot be trustworthy to keep and allow their own arms informs us that ours, may be one of great treasures, but is also a time of a risk to let people free and the stipulation that Christ is not our Ruler, we shall have a dictator to rule over us, just as Samuel warned. On the other hand, it is rightful to own a gun if it is to be used for the right reason especially self-defense. However, many at times guns have been missed by people to kill innocent people by either pointing the gun to them and as a joke; they trigger it and shoot the person. Despite that, there are a number of restrictions that have been anticipated or endorsed into law that consist of checking the backgrounds and waiting for times when individuals who need to buy a gun, rules of secondary market sales, the safety of children, laws that prevent child-access, prohibition of small, lightweight guns, and a contentious 1994 forbid on mugging weapons. Works Cited Esv Study Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles, 2008. Internet resource. Feinberg, John S, Paul D. Feinberg, and Aldous Huxley. Ethics for a Brave New World. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway, 2010. Print. Holmes, Arthur F. Ethics, Approaching Moral Decisions. Downers Grove, Ill., U.S.A: InterVarsity Press, 1984. Print. "Keep and Bear Arms - Gun Owners Home Page - 2nd Amendment Supporters." Keep and Bear Arms - Gun Owners Home Page - 2nd Amendment Supporters. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2014. Lott, John R. The Bias against Guns: Why Almost Everything You've Heard About Gun Control Is Wrong. Washington, DC: Regnery Pub, 2003. Print. Naturalism_Org." Naturalism_Org. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2014. Read More