I was just thinking about this time I saw a missionary speaking at my church. The family brought along their slide show pictures --- they were fundraising, after all. They lived most of the year in Africa and they brought along a picture of a small, white church in the middle of a field surrounded again by jungle. The photo showed, outside the church, carefully lined up along the side and away from the door, about half a dozen spears. I don't have a very good visual memory, but this image just burned into my brain. The clear message: no weapons allowed in their church.
I remember thinking at the time, yes, of course. Churches are sanctuaries. No weapons should be allowed. And that seemed good to me. That was before the doctor was gunned down in the lobby of Redeemer Lutheran Church. That was before 20 kids were slaughtered the week before Christmas.
This happened today -- not too far from where I live:
Santa Barbara Shooter.
I've been to that campus many times, including taking courses one summer. It is a gorgeous location. Isla Vista is funky and full of youthful energy -- and there's almost always a party going on. It's a colorful, fun place to work and study.
If you go on any websites right now, there are lots of people commenting about this -- about how a good guy with a gun is the solution to crazy people. I guess that makes a kind of sense.
I think about that picture of the spears lined up outside of the church and I wonder if there is any place left in the US that is a sanctuary any more? Shouldn't we do better? Shouldn't grade schools and college sorority houses be safe -- I know the world isn't perfect and there are crazy people -- but what is the minimum standard of a civil society? Wouldn't that be a place a little safer than the OK Corral? Because I don't have any intention of getting a gun. I pay taxes and vote and I wouldn't do any of that if I didn't live in a so-called civil society. I don't want to live in the Wild West any more.
Just a good article
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