What would Jesus shoot?
My Dear People,
What would Jesus shoot?
In case you were wondering: An AR-15.
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And, in case you were wondering further: "AR-15" stands for "ArmaLite
Model 15," an assault rifle capable of firing up to 800 rounds per
minute; and accurate at up to 600 yards.
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Recently I visited a gun show, out on the edge of Richmond.
We went directly from church. And, I must say, I'm not sure I've ever experienced a more jarring juxtaposition with worship.
I went in company with a fellow Richmond pastor, as well as with two people whose respective children were victims in the 2007 Virginia Tech shootings. (Both children survived.)
One of those parents bought me the t-shirt (pictured above) at the gun show, confident that I would make good use of it, albeit a rather different use than the one envisioned by the vendor. (And, by the way, the answer to the question is provided on the back of the t-shirt. It wasn't enough to leave it rhetorical.)
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We saw a 50 caliber assault rifle. It's perfectly legal. And, depending on who's selling it, it doesn't necessarily require a background check.
It can fire three miles; and it is deadly accurate up to a mile.
(One wonders why Jesus would settle for an AR-15.)
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"When in doubt, empty your magazine." A bumper sticker we saw.
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Once you've completed the form, a background check takes 90 seconds. And yet, unlike at actual gun shops, a background check is not required at gun shows in Virginia.
This makes no sense.
There are 65 gun shows a year in Virginia.
How many guns get into the wrong hands at those shows?
And because we can't spare the inconvenience of 90 seconds?
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It's called "the gun show loophole."
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Something must change.
For sanity's sake.
Something must change.
For the sake of the more than fifty Virginians who will die bloody deaths this month by gun violence.
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Something must change.
For the sake of Prince of Peace.
Your brother in Christ,
Wallace+
