Gun control or no?

   On July 20, 2012 in Aurora, Colorado a shooter wounded 70 people, 12 of whom died as a result.  This horrific movie theater shooting was a terrible thing.  Watching the news, I was close to tears.  My heart truly goes out to those who are hurting and those who have lost loved ones.  I continue to keep them in my prayers.
   Of course, within hours of the shooting, reporters, politicians, and others began to bring up what they think to be a "critical" issue.  Not how to help and comfort the victims and their families (though I'm sure that was discussed), but the issue of gun control.  The shooter used a gun to kill and injure all those people so the logical solution would be to ban guns, right?
   I beg to differ.  In this post I would like to present some basic logic, and my reasons for not supporting gun control.  Please understand that in all this I mean no disrespect to the victims and their families; on the other hand, I speak on behalf of their protection.
   I saw a picture on facebook a few days ago that showed a hand holding a rock.  The words on the picture went something like this (paraphrased): 'This is a rock.  It is an inanimate object.  It is sometimes used to hurt people.  (Politicians) don't want to ban rocks.  Rocks don't hurt people.  Bad people hurt people.'  The same is true with guns.  Guns did not kill the people in the Colorado shooting, the man holding the guns did.  Guns in it of themselves are not evil.  The people who use them to harm others are evil.  Banning guns will not solve any problems.  In fact, it could cause more.
  Do you think that the man in that movie theater shooting would have been so bold if he had known that half the theater-goers were carrying guns?  I think not.  Guns in the hands of good people are a tool for good.  If people in that theater had been carrying guns, the outcome of that tragedy could have been very different.  People's lives could have been saved.
   I would like to contend that banning guns would actually make good people less safe.  The people who kill and wound others would do the same regardless of whether they were allowed to use the weapons to do it or not.  We have lots of laws in this country; for example, a law against stealing.  Does that keep people from stealing?  I'm sure it keeps some from stealing, but there are still plenty of people who steal.  Lawbreakers are just that - people who break the law.  Whether there is a law against guns or not, the lawbreakers would still find a way to shoot someone if that is what they are setting out to do.  Banning guns would not prevent crime, it would only leave the victims of crime defenseless.
   It is difficult for me to not get upset over the fact that so many people don't see the logic of this.  I pray that God would guide our leaders as they consider this issue, and give them true wisdom to do the right thing.  I don't want something like the Aurora shooting to ever happen again, and I don't think anyone does.  I just hope and pray that our leaders would understand the best way to prevent that, and pursue action in that direction.

The Strength of Weakness

   I have been learning a lot of things lately through different areas and struggles in my life.  I am dealing with strength/injury issues in my ankle that have been going on for at least two years.  I am working through some anxiety issues as well, and I don't enjoy it.  It hit me the other day why I don't enjoy these things.  They make me weak.  I don't like to be weak.  I really don't like to be weak.
   Let me explain something about my personality.  I am the sort of person who works very hard to get what I want and who is very confident in myself and my ability to accomplish things.  In short, my tendency is to rely on myself.  When I am weak I can no longer rely on myself, and in a way, that scares me.  So what good is there in going through trials that make us weak?
   In the Bible it tells us that when we are weak, He is strong, for His power is made perfect in weakness (2nd Cor. 12:9).  Could it be that God is teaching me to rely on Him?  Of course!  In Eph. 6:10 it says to "be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might".  So in making me weak, God is actually making me stronger by giving me real strength!  So, really, He is being kind to me by the trials that He has given, and I should be praising Him for His graciousness in opening my eyes through struggle.  Maybe someday I'll even get it! :)