Burglars for Gun Control?!
I hosted a panel discussion entitled Church Security: Where Faith & Preservation Collide in July of 2018. The creation of the program was brought on by devastating shootings that took place inside churches in North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas in the months before. I put the program together to start the discussion about security issues in local churches. I knew there were going to be questions, and heated discussion about the implications of having any type of security presence during a worship service. I brought a group of leaders from my local church; our Synod Bishop; a volunteer church security team member from an Akron Baptist Church; as well as law enforcement officers and an attorney. They were brought together so that we could discuss and learn with each other. Our goal was to prepare ourselves as well as start the discussion about “self-defense” and how we discuss these things within our faith. You can read the article that was posted in The Daily Record, Wooster Ohio HERE.
The reason that I wanted to post this today, was due to recent anniversaries of church shootings:
* Dayton Church Shooting – 02/28/16
* Philadelphia Church Shooting – 04/24/16
* Charleston Church Massacre – 06/17/15
* Jersey City Shooting – 08/09/16
* New York City Mosque – 08/13/16
and other upcoming anniversaries:
* Burnette Chapel Church of Christ – 09/24/17
* Tree of Life Shooting – 10/27/18
* Sutherland Springs – 11/05/17
As well as other gun violence that has become much more prevalent during the COVID-19 crisis.
Recently, Governor Dewine has renewed his interest in pushing a bill that he presented shortly following a shooting in Dayton (08/04/19). His renewed interest was due to its anniversary falling on August 4th. This bill included a version of a Red Flag Law, that as he put it: protects the community, while retaining due-process for the individual.
Unfortunately, and just like most NEW laws that relate to gun violence – it failed to acknowledge the fact that it was ALREADY LAW (ORC 5122.10). His interest was in utilizing or strengthening the pink slip law (as the mental health professional refers to it), to be used more frequently as well as adding to the definition of when it could be used (for overdose patients). The NEW law would have only added formal wording to address opiate addiction as a reason for commitment – otherwise it had already been law since 2004. In addition, this current law had already been long discussed by law enforcement as well as treatment providers as a means of addressing “frequent flyers” to emergency rooms, and for that matter, people who were part of the opiate overdosing epidemic.
The “NEW” law would simply encourage law enforcement to do more of what they already do – deal with mentally ill individuals as well as overdose patients by getting them treatment instead of jail time. The problem with the NEW law is that it is merely an effort toward virtue signaling for constituents that feel nothing is being done. I remember the chant “do something” was very loud at the time. As it normally pans out, “do something” doesn’t result in doing much more than grandstanding.
I have had several conversations with individuals about “background checks” and making it more difficult for “mentally ill” people to get access to firearms. These conversations usually end in argument about current laws already being in place. These laws have been in place for years and do nothing but make people “feel better” about what is being done about gun violence. The general public and those not informed on firearms issues, believe that a law like this is necessary “because, well, obviously, mentally ill individuals are getting their hands on guns.” I hope you picked up on my sarcasm. But maybe you didn’t. My point is that a law will not stop an individual that is determined to harm another, of harming another – period. If this were actually the case, why are there still robberies happening on a regular basis? Why are there people being raped? A law clearly states that these actions are illegal! Why didn’t that stop the crime?!?
There are many laws in place that could be better enforced, how about we start there. Maybe, instead of politicians making new laws – maybe, just maybe, they could educate the public about the laws that are already in place. Maybe, just maybe, advise people that a law is not going to stop criminals from being criminals. Maybe, just maybe, we could support law enforcement and assist them in getting these criminals off the streets instead of living the “snitches get stitches” life. Stop complaining about crime in your neighborhood! Stop blaming police when they are doing their job! “Do Something!”
Let me be very clear: All of the laws and plans that have been presented regarding gun violence and/or red flag laws – will do nothing to stop the violence that we see so often. They will only hinder the already law-abiding citizen from being able to have the tools necessary to defend themselves.
One case in point: Previous to 2018, there were laws on the books that made churches – Gun Free Zones. It didn’t matter if your congregation wanted to hire security and have parishioners armed – the law made that impossible. That law was changed to allow a church to decide if they would permit armed members. it was now a decision for church leadership, not a mandate from the government. The benefits of this change in gun laws didn’t take very long to show themselves: In December 2019, a church shooting was cut short by one of these armed church security team members. There is no telling what kind of carnage could have been left behind if the shooter wasn’t stopped by an armed church goer (See Article Here). That incident didn’t get much national attention, (article is from BBC News) due to it not fitting the narrative of our unbiased mainstream media. Oh, heck, my sarcasm has returned.
The video that I am sharing is satire, but it really hits on a real hard fact that people need to have the means to defend themselves from criminal acts. There is a shift in perspective happening in our country right now that puts more scrutiny on law enforcement and less on the criminal element. Law abiding citizens may soon be deemed criminals due to their interest in defending themselves or loved ones. It is a slippery slope of lost rights that we are facing.
I know that I am prepared to defend myself and my loved ones. Are you? Could you benefit from taking a class on firearm safety? Turns out, I do that! Sign up now for an upcoming class and take that first step in preparing yourself.
In the mean-time, I hope to see you at the range,
Tim Barrage
Owner – Barrage of Shots Firearms Training