Here's an idea to catch in the cross hairs: should guns be allowed in churches and on colleges? Do you want to pray kneeling next to someone who is strapped? Suppose he or she doesn't like what the preacher has to say? And what happens when a student fails his or her third physics quiz?
Several state legislatures are weighing in on whether guns can be restricted or permitted on college campuses and even churches, including my neighboring state, Georgia. Many people think the presence of guns will keep them safe. I say no. Increasing the presence of guns will not protect anyone from harm. Increasing guns on college among a crowd of hot headed, drinking twenty somethings will also increase the number of gun "accidents,"--spur of the moment, heat-of-passion incidents that now are played out as tussles and fights. And here in South Carolina, in the town of Sumter, named for the revolutionary war hero, Thomas Sumter, the fighting Gamecock, a Baptist Church divided into fractions and showed up for Sunday service armed. Besides, as one woman in Georgia commented, "the idea that somehow law enforcement can make a distinction between someone who is intending to commit harm and someone who is intending to defend other people, that's a false distinction." I agree.
I do remember a couple who came to church after a shooting. They jumped out opposite sides of the bed after an argument. Reaching into separate side stands, they whipped out revolvers and fired across the matress. The room was dark.She missed. He didn't. Luckily, it was only a nick across the forearm.
My kid brother the 250 lb cop, fire arm certified, academcy instructor, keeps his guns locked up in a gun safe. He's arrested folk with bazookas on the backseat!
I live in a college town with 15,000 students whose nickname is the "Holy City." Charleston, SC has some of America's oldest churches: among the Baptists, Episcopalians, AME's. and Unitarians Charleston has the denominations' oldest Southern churches. These churches have seen arms. The British quartered their horses in one sanctuary; in another, Armed Union troops stood at attention waiting on the prayer for President Abraham Lincoln in the days after the 1861 war. Several have been struck by canon balls.
I remember the first time I visited Durham, North Carolina a few years ago and walked in as a visitor to a downtown Sunday service. I noticed this large print sign placed squarely in the middle of the door: "No firearms permitted in the Sanctuary. All guns must checked before entering." The meaning of that sign was with me during the confession of sins, and entered by thoughts as I causally looked around during the sermon. After service, when I shook the Rector's hand my first comment was not about the sermon-it was a question about the sign on the church's door! "Oh, the sign." He laughed. State law permits concealed weapons but churches can ban them by stating publicly that guns are not permitted.
I hope the folk in Georgia vote for the sentiments of that sign. If you know some folk in Georgia, told to tell the legislation to just say no to guns in churches and in college campuses. Come to think of it, that's a pretty good idea. Instead of deterence, the home state of Martin Luther King should really be promoting non-violence!
