Building God's Kingdom through Worship, Outreach, and Fellowship

Reflections about Gun Violence from Karen Merritt

December 5, 2019 Uncategorized

Growing up as the daughter of a Baptist minister and avid hunter in Mississippi, I know that many nights our supper table was supplemented with wild game because of my father’s skill with a rifle. Owning rifles to hunt has always been part of living in the south. As a physician working in the hospital during my training, I had an opportunity to see firsthand what guns could do to people, with death or life-altering injuries being the endpoint. In my mind, the argument has been more than the right to own guns; it is how we do as Christians address gun violence in our society?
In the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2018, 1021 persons lost their lives to gun violence. The number of gun related suicides has been rising since 1999 and nearly two-thirds of the gun related deaths in Virginia at this time are suicides.   
Although guns and gun violence are not specifically addressed in the Scriptures, human dignity and the sanctity of life do resonate with our core beliefs as Christians. If we say that gun violence leads to a disregard for human life and dignity and does not recognize the image of God in every person because it takes away life carelessly, then we must address the issues as people of faith.  There are those who say that talking about guns and gun violence is too political, but the most political person we know is our Lord. To preach “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” in the midst of the Roman Empire was pretty political. To ask people to turn the other cheek and love our enemies, or admonish his followers “whatever you do to the least of these you do to me” when Rome was all about might and wealth was radical and political. 
The emotions that lead up to the acts of gun violence: fear, anger, despair, desperation and hatred aren’t political.  They are emotions that we as Christians can help others work through without the need for violence. We can advocate for equality for all so that the desperation felt in rural and urban America doesn’t culminate in gun violence. Folks do have a right to own guns in our society, but it is up to the people of faith to help those living in darkness not become victims or perpetrators of gun violence.
Karen Merritt sings in our choir and is one of the Co-conveners of St. Andrew’s Parishioners Against Gun Violence.  The Team meets regularly and holds quarterly vigils.  The next Gun Violence vigil will be on Sunday, January 26 at 4 PM.  All are welcome.  For more information about the Responding to Gun Violence Team, contact Karen Merritt at merrik01@msn.comor Merrill Hemmert at merrillhemmert@verizon.net.