My heart aches and my brain seems scrabbled when I learn about a 4 year old boy shooting his 6 year old neighbor. This single death brings back memories of Shady Hook Elementary School, the Aurora movie theater shooting, the 1998 Columbine High School massacre and the dozens and dozens of other senseless shootings. Not to mention those that are yet to happen.
As an anti-gun advocate I am challenged by Diocese of Oklahoma Bishop Edward J. Konieczny’s recent CNN article, The Thin Line Between God and Guns.
My strong feelings and raw emotions make it difficult to me to understand the gun advocate’s side. However, God calls me to love all my neighbors, not just the ones that agree with my opinion.
It is easy for me to say we want Bishop Ed to be safe when he visits the churches in remote far reaching parts of his diocese. I know Bishop Ed and his background and I am confident when he carries his permitted gun, he does so responsibly.
If only everyone who carries a gun was like Bishop Ed all would be fine.
But, that is not the reality in our cities, suburbs and rural neighborhoods. All is not fine.
Until that happens, I will continue to advocate for changes in gun laws, but I will also stop and realize gun advocates are also deeply vested in gun ownership which they are afforded under the flag of freedom.
So for now I will continue to pray for the strength to love my gun owner neighbors.