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LETTER: Outlawing Weapons Won’t Curb Violence
Letter
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I am writing in response to Mr. Lyle Olsen’s letter (Feb. 6 Beacon: “Assault Weapons a Menace to Society”).
Mr. Olsen states that society does not need military pattern rifles (aka “assault weapons”), “…because our shotgun or handgun or pepper spray will stop a criminal in our home…” I agree, however, what will Mr. Olsen do when tyrannical government agents or a United Nations “peacekeeping force” comes to take away his shotgun or handgun or to escort his family and neighbors to the nearest “re-education camp?” Remember, it was a tyrannical government’s military that escorted the European Jews to the concentration camps just 75 years ago.
Again, Mr. Olsen states, “…ownership of assault weapons is a moral issue and no Christian can justify ownership of such murderous weapons.” Since Christians derive their moral foundation from the Holy Scriptures where does it say ownership of a sword (the “assault weapon” of the day) is immoral? I can’t find any such notion but what I do find is Our Lord commanding His disciples to sell their garment and buy a sword (Luke 22:36, KJV) Either Jesus is wrong or Mr. Olsen is; I believe Jesus, thank you.
Finally, Mr. Olsen says that, “…assault weapons will remain a constant menace as long as they exist in our society.” ANY weapon (shotgun, pistol, knife, crow bar, rock, etc.) wielded in the hands of a deranged individual is a menace to society. Attempting to outlaw military pattern weapons will do nothing to rid this land of violence. Only a return to the moral, and yes biblical, principles that our Republic was founded on will. It starts when we, as a nation, repent of our national sins and return to following God instead of our own way.
Thomas Millett
Kalispell
Mr. Olsen states that society does not need military pattern rifles (aka “assault weapons”), “…because our shotgun or handgun or pepper spray will stop a criminal in our home…” I agree, however, what will Mr. Olsen do when tyrannical government agents or a United Nations “peacekeeping force” comes to take away his shotgun or handgun or to escort his family and neighbors to the nearest “re-education camp?” Remember, it was a tyrannical government’s military that escorted the European Jews to the concentration camps just 75 years ago.
Again, Mr. Olsen states, “…ownership of assault weapons is a moral issue and no Christian can justify ownership of such murderous weapons.” Since Christians derive their moral foundation from the Holy Scriptures where does it say ownership of a sword (the “assault weapon” of the day) is immoral? I can’t find any such notion but what I do find is Our Lord commanding His disciples to sell their garment and buy a sword (Luke 22:36, KJV) Either Jesus is wrong or Mr. Olsen is; I believe Jesus, thank you.
Thomas Millett
Kalispell
For Mark W.: Firstly, I don’t think the Good Samaritan is exactly voluntary. I researched this and read that Jesus is described as telling the parable in response to a question regarding the identity of the “neighbour” which Leviticus 19:18 says should be loved. Isn’t that…
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