Let's Find a New Hobby

As we continue to struggle to make sense of the December 14 murder of 20 first graders and 6 teachers in Connecticut, the debate over the prevalence of guns in our society once again takes center stage.  Gun proponents return to their mantra that 'guns don't kill people, people kill people.'  Years ago when I was a pastor, I visited a family whose 10-year old son had found his father's loaded pistol and discharged the gun, killing himself.  If it wasn't the gun that killed this little boy, who was it?  Of course guns kill people.  To say that guns kill does not ignore the human factor in killings such as those we saw in Connecticut.  But, the fact is that such a killer would not have been able to carry out such carnage with another object such as a knife, club, or even a bow and arrow.  But debate about limiting guns and/or the type of guns available to citizens has gone on for years and their seems to be little to no movement on the issue.

My view is that we need to find a way to lessen the fascination that so many people have with guns.   Following the massacre on Friday the president of a gun advocacy group in the area where I live was asked why individuals need to own assault rifles.  He admitted that they do not need these weapons, but that these weapons are so 'cool.'  He went on to describe how these assault rifles and handguns are fashioned to look very much like the ones used by the military and that people just love them. He went on to say that they are 'so much fun to shoot.'  "Some people want one of these guns," he said,  "just like other people would want a Ferrari."

For years guns have been romanticized in movies and on television.  But what is depicted now in video games makes Gun Smoke seem innocuous by comparison.  Far too many people, mostly men and boys, are fascinated by lethal weapons.  I dare say that assault rifles are not commonly used by hunters.  In order to get anywhere in curbing gun violence in society, hunters and sportsmen need to start standing up and saying, "we do not need semi-automatic handguns and assault weapons."   Firearms, especially of the sort that have been used in recent mass killings are unfortunately a 'hobby' for too many Americans. On too many occasions these weapons have found their way into the hands of individuals intending harm.   My hope is that an increasing number of gun owners will renounce ownership of assault weapons and semi-automatic firearms of all kinds.


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