“Guns have always been a feature of American culture, alongside a sense of national pride in our independence story from the tyrannical British monarchy. The Book of Mormon tells of the divine providence that protected the American forces and forts from the British during the Revolutionary War, over a thousand years before such events even took place. Additionally, the Constitution of the United States is formally considered to be a sacred and inspired text by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.”
Why on earth would anyone in our advanced, safe, modern society need a gun? Maybe it’s acceptable to have an old-school shotgun in the corner of a closet to come out once every few years for a duck hunt or when something goes bump in the night, but semiautomatic weapons, especially ones that look like a military weapon? There couldn’t be a need for that, the world is too safe a place, and the dangers of guns far outweigh any benefits of owning one… Or do they? Some may also have conflicting ideas about self-defense, firearms, war, and religious values. Personally, alongside many other Americans who are awakening to understand the current state of our Nation, I believe that guns are not just acceptable, they are critical.
Guns have always been a feature of American culture, alongside a sense of national pride in our independence story from the tyrannical British monarchy. The Book of Mormon tells of the divine providence that protected the American forces and forts from the British during the Revolutionary War, over a thousand years before such events even took place. Additionally, the Constitution of the United States is formally considered to be a sacred and inspired text by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The Second Amendment to the Constitution tells of the rights the American people have to keep and bear arms; It states, “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the defense of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”
What, then, can we gather about the Lord’s stance on said “arms” and “militia” from scripture stories and teachings? What is the modern Church’s stance on guns? First, some basic knowledge on firearms can help the reader to start on the same page before any argument can be reasonably attempted. Often there is confusion as to which guns are more dangerous than others, and therefore, which should be less restricted and regulated. To be frank, all guns are dangerous and have the potential to cause serious bodily harm or death. Every one of them. Why then are there thousands of types, brands, and models on the market and across the world? Because different guns are designed for different modes of use.
For example, a double-barreled shotgun with long and sleek, parallel barrels is a fine choice of gun for hunting rabbits, ducks, and geese, but a poor choice for defending one’s home. After two shoulder-slamming, deafening blasts aimed only by a tiny brass bead at the barrels’ end, the gun must be folded in half, the spent casings removed, fresh ones inserted, the barrels righted, and the gun returned to the shoulder of the now bruised and deaf home defender. A fantastic option for home defense (and one of the most popular) is the Armalite 15 or AR-15. It is shorter and much more capable than the shotgun, built to be fired repeatedly, and has several surfaces designed to attach accessories, including lights, lasers, and sights for precise aiming and comfortable shooting. Another very popular class of firearms is pistols. Being very compact while still capable for self defense, pistols are a good back-up to a rifle or other primary weapon in a known dangerous environment, either overtly or covertly in times and places where danger is possible, but not expected, as police officers do. Many other guns could be described, their features outlined, and their uses expounded upon, but it suffices to say that guns are as varied as their owner’s needs.
These types of guns each have a time and a place to be used, and the reason for their existence is not complicated—again, guns are intended to kill. Whether it be a jackrabbit or a human, nearly all guns are designed around the purpose of killing. The question then falls to the individual behind the gun, a device (or tool) for killing. The gun will not find ammunition, load, aim, and fire itself; the individual using the device is in full control, and to be in control of a device for killing is not to be taken lightly. All gun owners must take responsibility for their own actions and must understand that they cannot control others. The Second Amendment does not state that an individual’s right to keep and bear arms is dependent on the just and righteous actions of every other American Citizen. Constitutional, God-given rights are not comparable to a kindergarten class where a child who chooses to hit another or talk out of turn can cause the whole class to lose privileges. Similarly, God has made it clear in Galatians chapter 6 that in this life, what a man sows he shall reap. Jesus Christ also taught the parable of the ten virgins, emphasizing the critical importance of personal preparedness.
“Laws prohibiting the possession of certain types of guns or the carrying of guns in public, including the creation of “gun-free zones,” will only affect law-abiding citizens. Criminals, who (by definition) do not abide by laws, will likely not choose to begin abiding by laws if one prohibiting the carry or ownership of firearms is passed.”
Bad people can do very bad things which a gun can indeed amplify. Why then do so many faithful American citizens, including members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, choose a gun? They do not want to face a gun-wielding person with evil intentions and only be armed with fists, a phone, or a piece of furniture nearby. They choose to take an active approach to their own safety and the safety of those around them, and for that reason alone, they choose a gun. When it comes to their own life and the lives of those they love, they don’t want a fair fight; they want all the odds to be stacked in their favor. They will take that gun to any fight if it means that they can come home to their family afterwards. Of course, with such power comes great responsibility, but that’s one responsibility that so many Americans are willing to carry.
Speaking of carrying, a gun back in the locked safe at home when you are out and about isn’t a great way to defend yourself either. Some would say this is unrealistic, that nobody should be expected to keep a gun with them all day. What about gun-free zones? Those in opposition to guns feel that more people carrying a gun allows for more criminals to commit crime or pose a threat to everyday citizens. They reason that if laws prohibited everyone from having guns in public, perhaps this would convince criminals to do the same.
These are valid concerns, but are grounded on faulty logic. In Alma chapter 43 we read: “And again, the Lord has said that: Ye shall defend your families even unto bloodshed. Therefore for this cause were the Nephites contending with the Lamanites, to defend themselves, and their families, and their lands, their country, and their rights, and their religion.” It is unlikely that the Nephites chose to use clubs and stones to defend themselves if more effective weapons such as steel swords or bows and arrows were available. They, too, chose to use the best possible tools to protect their lives, liberty, and property.
The position The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds regarding guns can be hard to understand. The leaders of the Church have asked members to refrain from bringing guns onto church property, specifically meetinghouses, temples, private university campuses, and the like. While not legally declaring such to be gun-free zones, they allow guns to remain in places of public assembly, largely keeping in accordance with the gun laws of other public places. The Church has not taught that members should or should not keep guns and ammunition in their homes, places of work, transportation, or on their person otherwise; these decisions are left to each church member whether he or she will choose a gun for their personal defense or some other means (including nothing at all). Some speculate that this is a politically-motivated neutral stance, or that the Church does not want to become involved in a politically-polarizing issue such as gun control. Others assert that the Church has no reservations or reluctance when teaching about other political “hot topics,” such as homosexuality or abortion, and that a neutral stance on guns is indeed intentional. Either way, it is clear that the choice to own, or “keep and bear” guns, is left to each church member to make for themselves and their families.
Laws prohibiting the possession of certain types of guns or the carrying of guns in public, including the creation of “gun-free zones,” will only affect law-abiding citizens. Criminals, who (by definition) do not abide by laws, will likely not choose to begin abiding by laws if one prohibiting the carry or ownership of firearms is passed. They tend to live more violent lives than others, and weapons of all kinds, including guns, are kept and used therein for both offensive and defensive purposes. Guns will not disappear from high-crime or gang involved areas due to new laws. We must bring the choice to each individual citizen of our society, arming them first with knowledge and understanding of guns and both sides of the gun control debate. Criminals will choose to carry and use guns for evil regardless of what the laws are; they have the most power in situations where lives are at stake. One saying goes “[in a gunfight] when seconds count, the police are just minutes away.” Unless the law prohibits such (as it does in some areas), a gun for self-defense can be safely kept on one’s person and in one’s home, ready for use and available when needed at every minute of the day and night. So, if disaster were to strike, would you be ready to defend yourself and your loved ones? Would you want that experience to be a “fair fight”? The choice is now before each of us. Would you choose a gun?
Written by: Sam Phillips
Guest Contributor at the Cougar Chronicle
The opinions in this article are those of the author.
The Cougar Chronicle is an independent student-run newspaper and is not affiliated with Brigham Young University or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
It’s interesting to know that firearms have long been ingrained in American culture, alongside a deep-seated sense of national pride stemming from our history of achieving independence from the perceived tyranny of the British monarchy. Lately, I’ve been thinking more about home security, especially with the recent uptick in neighborhood break-ins. It got me considering checking out handguns for sale to feel a bit more prepared if things ever go south. I figure having that extra layer of protection wouldn’t hurt, you know?