Pro Gun Isn't Pro Life

 

                                                Robb Elementary School memorial, Uvalde Texas 

Years ago I wrote about Rob Schenck, an evangelical pastor and renowned anti-abortion activist. Along the way Schenck took a dramatic turn in his focus, convinced that a Christian couldn't be pro-life and pro-gun. His reputation and the finances of his ministry took a huge hit, but he has perservered and his personal journey is the basis for the 2015 documentary film, Armor of Light.

 As I recall (it's been a while since I watched the doc) there is a scene where Schenck is chatting with friends over coffee. One of them becomes quite intense about the possibility of protecting family and congregation with a firearm, if need be, while Schenck maintains that this isn't consistent with the gospel of Jesus Christ. This wa a real-life representation of the " 'Only Thing That Stops A Bad Guy With A Gun Is A Good Guy With A Gun' mythology of the NRA and millions of Americans. 

\This came to mind when the report was released by the US Department of Justice regarding the shooting at a public school in Uvalde Texas where 17 children and two teachers were killed by an 18-year-old gunman with an assault weapon. A staggering total of 400 armed police officers responded to the scene of this terrible mass murder, some within three minutes, yet it took them 77 minutes to act. It's likely that some children and teachers died after police arrived on scene because of failures at every level. 

Christians could certainly lead the way in calling for stricter gun laws in the States and in most polls this is what they want. Guess who doesn't? 

I'm not sure of Rob Schenck's stance on abortion today but he has it right that to be pro-life we cannot be coerced by the myth of the heroic response and of redemptive violence.