| September 21 2009 | Volume 84, Number 24 | |
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Why does gun violence permeate our society?
I am sick. With tears in my eyes, I tear up the article I had started and begin again. I learned this afternoon that two students, sophomores at Virginia Tech, were found dead today — murdered by someone with a gun.
Although I do not yet know the details, I do know that two more senseless deaths from gun violence have occurred in our state and that these families will suffer for years. They will never “get over it” as so many think they should. Care, concern, love, prayer and support will help these families begin their grief filled journey. But their loved ones were killed by a person who should not have had a gun and our elected officials do not care enough to try to prevent gun violence. Then again, are we, the Christian community, doing what we can to prevent the gun violence that rips through our communities leaving such devastation and pain? Deaths from gun violence occur at an alarming rate in our state. Every year, approximately 800 Virginians die from firearms. Has there been any discussion or response to this appalling number? We seem to care more about those who die from contaminated food sources. When there are four deaths from tainted peanut butter, we demand Congressional hearings. Why do we not demand the same for victims of gun violence? I would suggest that our duty as Christians includes caring enough about victims of gun violence to look for ways to impede the easy access to guns by those deemed legally ineligible. Gun violence can happen to anyone, anytime, anyplace. It happened to our family on April 16, 2007. My daughter Emily, then a student at Virginia Tech, called us at 10:38 that morning. I will never forget her words, “Mommy, I’ve been shot.” As we raced down the highway to get to the hospital in Blacksburg, the news worsened by the minute. I sobbed and prayed; all I could think of were those families who were making that same drive only to find their child had been killed.
In the two years since the massacre, I have learned a considerable amount about the gun violence that permeates our society. The sad fact is there are too many who, in some misguided attempt to cling to their right to own a gun, are unwilling to make even small sacrifices so that we can keep guns out of the wrong hands. Law abiding citizens have the right to purchase and own guns. But we must make it much, much harder for those the law has deemed ineligible to purchase a gun. We must make it much, much harder for those who are criminals and the mentally ill to get guns. How can we call ourselves Christians if we do not respect all human life? We must be willing to make sacrifices out of love, kindness and respect for our fellow human beings. I am reminded of the saying that became popular when Emily was a young teenager: “What Would Jesus Do?” I do not believe He would condone, much less call on us to continue to arm ourselves as we have done. More guns are not the answer. In fact, the five states that have the highest number of gun ownership per capita also have the highest gun death rates per capita, while the five states with the lowest gun ownership rates have the lowest gun death rates per capita. I appeal to you, my fellow Christians, to look at our society — the horrific loss to families and communities because of gun violence — and ask yourselves, are we doing everything we can to stop it?
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I think about the heartache and pain yet another family will suffer.
I thanked God that by some miracle Emily was alive. I thank Him every single day and pray for all the families of those who were killed that day.