Thinking About … God and Guns

Anonymous

I remember the widespread right-wing outrage when then-candidate Obama talked about people “clinging to guns and religion” at an ’08 campaign stop in Pennsylvania. I said it at the time, and Conservatives have proven it true – they weren’t upset because it was an unfair generalization…they were irritated because he’d touched a nerve. And in the years since, they have continually missed the memo that the only way to dispel a stereotype is working to counter it. Yet, to this day, if I see a car with rabid right-wing/pro-gun agitprop on the bumper stickers, It’s almost a guaran-damn-tee that there are at least a few religious-themed butt-banners in the mix, as well. nnIt’s a sad shame in this country that those who consider themselves most “patriotic” are groups who only believe in what they THINK the Constitution says. It’s an entirely secular document that cleanly stipulates state/church separation, allows for arms ownership within well-regulated militia structure, and protects freedom of speech as an absolute. Yet they continue to shout down people with whom they disagree, and are prepared to “return America to god” with “second-amendment remedies” if necessary. It’s frankly sickening how they cherry-pick and retro-rationalize only their favorite amendments and commandments to suit their own narrow-minded agenda.

Trey

I live in a heavily religious area in the deep south and I dont believe in the flying spaghetti monster or any other god. I do believe that armed citizens are a good thing. I live and work with many that are ultra conservative and dont agree with any of the “god” aspects of their politics, but I know where my bread is buttered so I keep those opinions to myself. I have traveled the world before settling back home and have lived in many progressive areas in the U.S. and I have seen the twisting and turning of the words of our constitution by the far- left as well. It is just as sickening as anything the far-right has ever done. Bottom line is when the schiatt hits the fan, I will be very prepared to defend anyone who needs help… regardless of their belief.

Bettynewberry

In my opinion, and YES I have one, just like everybody else. If a person is allowed to carry a gun, and they wish to take it to church, so be it! With all the violence and hate mongering going on, a person is not safe, even in their own home anymore. Does a gun give them equel leverage. Not really, but it does offer them a chance to atleast walk away from a situation. It’s like any other protective devise, use is as it is intended and it could save your life! I do not own a gun, but me and my husband, who live out in a rural area, have really been considering getting one. Why?? Because of all the people out there who do not believe in God, and think it is alright to take what they want, when ever they want, and care less about other people.

Dr. Pretentious

It’s all them goddamn evangelical Canadians and their rampant shoot’em up mentality is where all the problems started.nn/runs and ducks in a corner

Bettynewberry

“Yet, to this day, if I see a car with rabid right-wing/pro-gun agitprop on the bumper stickers, It’s almost a guaran-damn-tee that there are at least a few religious-themed butt-banners in the mix, as well”………What a load of crap you have spewing from your mouth. You want freedom of speech, but yet you don’t want others to have the right to bear arms…..double talk if ever I heard it. Are you a goverment employee???? Tell the jews, they should not have fought back, because they should of contered the Germans violence and hate by just laying down so as to dispel any sterotype. How many of them would be alive today?? When you have jacknapes who wana take away your freedom to protect yourself and your family….I can guaran-damn-tee you they are trying to handicap the innocents. Do you think because others do not arm themselves for protection, the criminals will stop playing shoot em’ up?? What world are you living in?nn

Anonymous

To say I expected some ill-spelled knee-jerk “‘Murrica is #1! USA!!! USA!!!” type to take issue with what I had to say would be an understatement. Nice to see I’ve still got it. nnY’know…Why don’t you actually READ what I had to say before you reflexively respond with your played-out, testosterone-dripping, chest-beating jingoism? Show me where I said that I disagree with the right to bear arms. Wait…you can’t. Because I didn’t. But it’s still that reactionary “Lib’rulz R tryn’ to take our GUNS away!” B.S. that caused such a HUGE spike in sales of Ammo for all of 2009. And I know because – Surprise! I work for a business that sells sporting goods. Which, at least in part, means guns and ammo. So, no. I DON’T work for the government. And I know it can be hard to wrap your Conservative brain around having political views that don’t necessarily beef up your bottom financial line, but hey. I guess some of us thing there are more important things than money. nnAnd go ahead and invoke “The Jews” all you want, but just be careful if and when you do. I’m married to a wonderful woman who makes my life complete, but she wouldn’t be here if her grandparents weren’t one of the incredibly lucky few families who managed to reunite after the liberation. Her grandfather was kept alive in the concentration camp because he was an electrical genius and therefore useful slave labor, and her grandmother and aunt were hidden under the floorboards of a Catholic family in Berlin for three entire years. So, needless to say, I’m a little sensitive about anyone with a sketchy-at-best comprehension of history using the holocaust as an argument-bargaining chip. nnAnd also, in the future…if you’re going to take someone to task for what they say…you might want to do THAT instead of levying personal attacks. If you take issue with my points…Counter them. Prove me wrong. Failing that, you’re just doing exactly what I said earlier: Railing against a stereotype while simultaneously bending over backwards to justify it.

Dirtily21

Trust in Allah, but tie your camel first.

Lame

Liberal crap like this will ruin your subscription base. This article couldn’t be more slanted – you live in a country that allows people to own firearms. Deal with it. nnAll you liberals are anti-gun until some asshole breaks in to your house at 2am. Of course you probably would just call that “spreading the wealth…”

Chris@TTP

Where are we anti-gun? The fact listed in today’s issue shows evidence that supports the theory that there should be guns allowed in church. nnAll we are doing is busting some balls in the intro. Everybody laughs until they get a little fun poked in their direction. Apparently it’s your turn today.nnI don’t know how long you’ve been reading us, but we make fun of everything. There isn’t a piece we do that someone couldn’t take daily offense to. nnWe have friends and family members that are proud gun owners. No beef there at all. We support the second amendment just like we do free speech. nnWe just found it interesting that a minister wants to have guns in his own church. Not homes, not businesses, not the rack in the back of your truck, but church. nnChurch, a place where faith should forego one’s fear. What’s lame is that you don’t see the irony there.n

Chris@TTP

There also seems to be some misunderstanding regarding today’s Last Square where we say “gun-toting psychopaths.” We DO NOT mean law-abiding gun owners, but rather literal psychopaths that have guns and actually storm churches, businesses, political rallies, etc…

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XFIFKYSE6O5BQTJCFTI5YAYBJA flux

I am all for liberty and against more gun control. You have to use common sense and try to keep convicted felons from owning guns, we have more than enough anti-gun laws as it is. However, bringing guns to church seems a little overboard, unless your church is in a middle-eastern country. Of course, if you have a CCW license, you can take your gun with you wherever you go. You never know when danger might come your way these days.

DudelyLama

Dudes… nnConsider: nnIt is not the weight of the gun (and applicable Heavy Responsibility) upon a sane and able-bodied person that wears away our existence; it is the liberal pussyfication of our once great nation. Apropos–Criminals have more rights than Citizens. nnBut I digress… I’m not here to pull that finger, we’d all fart our fucking guts out.nnCrystalize this: nnThink back to the Johns of yesteryear–John Wayne, Johnny Cash, Elvis ‘John’ Presley, Dali ‘John’ Lama, Long Johns, and others (excluding John Lennon–sorry music fans)… A person stands for something and that something is backbone, or they just roll over and take it in the proverbial ass–which r’you Ugly Shirts?

Rick

You might make fun of everything, but saying things like “inviting all kinds of gun-toting shenanigans” and “Fortunately back then we couldn’t get pistol whipped” and “The only problem with that is there isn’t a redneck alive that doesn’t fancy himself an expert marksman” sound like more than fun-poking. My first reaction was Man, when did TTP get so liberal? This does sound, to me, like more than a little good-humored irony. And when “Lame” responds, you attack him for being thin-skinned rather than go back and re-reading your column. Maybe today’s column didn’t quite get your point across. As is, it reads more like the minister’s a whacko for wanting guns in church, and it colors other statements (no matter how neutral) to read as if anyone with guns is a whacko.

Chris@TTP

Rick, I re-read my column before responding to Lame and I gladly stand by it. Nowhere did I attack him but rather explained my perspective. nnSometimes ones passion for a topic can cloud the way in which they interpret what we write. The wisecracks you list above are merely over the top images we imagine when we think of everyone packing a gun in church. nnIf you go back and re-read the column and links today, you’ll see where we link actual articles where it would have been good if someone had a gun in church. We are just busting balls in the intro like we do all the time – liberal, conservative, etc… nnClearly on a topic that includes both guns and religion there will be passionate responses on both sides. I thought each module (other than the intro) representened both perspectives well. nnSince my point was missed by many, let me state it here: Isn’t it ironic that a minister who believes “The Lord works in mysterious ways” and that “Heaven is the promised land” would want guns in his church? To me it seems to show a lack of faith. That, like everything I write is just my opinion.nnFriday is another day and we’ll more than likely step on someone else’s toes then. Hopefully, you’ll stick around to see it. nnThanks for rolling with us!

AlMcCausland

I would like for Bettynewberry and Uglyshirts to kiss and make up. Life is to short to carry animosity or to get angry at someone because they disagree with you.nnI believe in the second ammendment and I am a member of the NRA. I also like to use my name in posts because I am not afraid. Guns are made for protection and for hunting. I don’t hunt but I respect those who do, even though I am a Vegan. I own guns stricktly for protection and I have for 20 years and have never even exposed it except to put it away at night. Thank G-d!nnSo, smile and love thy neighbor!

Christina Hadleigh

Except the TTP staff, the rest of you Americans are just fu00facking mad running around playing fu00facking ‘Cowboys & Indians’…nGuns don’t kill, it’s the wanker who’s pulling the trigger that is kills…

Munsonjr Ed36

Humor is fine. Being able to laugh at oneself is great. But when the Country that has give you and all of us the right to make fun of each other seems to be going to “hell in a hand basket” then the humor stops! In this case your liberties end where mine begin. We have a person leading our Country whose legitimacy to that office appears to be in serious doubt. Get off your backside and do something constructive to help this Country. The legitimate gun owners in our Land are not responsible for the craziness and serious crimes. That can be blamed on the voters who put the jackasses in office. Knee jerk liberals who see GOOD in everyone……Until we stop rewarding laziness, and offering social disparity as an excuse for criminal activities then we will continue our downward spiral. Oh yeah, lets not forget to keep our borders open so we can continue to take care of the rest of the planet!nn