On behalf of the Presbytery of Lake Erie, two days ago I wrote our brothers and sisters in the Presbytery of Western New York reaffirming our sympathy for their pain over the mass shootings at the Buffalo Tops Market on Jefferson Avenue on May 14th and promising to remember them in prayer at our upcoming presbytery meeting. The Presbytery of Western New York was meeting last night at the exact same time we were meeting as a presbytery. I wanted them to know we hadn’t forgotten their trauma and the time it would take to heal. Then the news of the shootings at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas broke yesterday(May 24), a tragedy that occurred just hours before both presbyteries gathered. After the initial shock and immediate sadness, I was angry. I was angry (I am angry!) at the loss of innocent lives, the senseless violence, the hatred that motivates two 18-year-old boys to do such harm (not to mention the hate crime at Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church in California the day after the Buffalo shootings), and my own feelings of helplessness to do anything about it. I am bone-tired of being rushed from one shooting tragedy to the next, from praying for victims and, before their names have a chance to fade in my consciousness, the list grows longer. I am discouraged that such hate-filled shootings are coming in such rapid succession in our country… and it has turned me into an advocate for gun control, especially rapid succession, assault style weapons.
Being a social and political advocate goes strongly against my natural tendencies. I do not consider myself a revolutionary. What is more, I never expected to have such strong opinions about guns. I grew up in the country and my father had guns. My husband James’ father too owned weapons, a carryover from his days serving in the Marines on Iwo Jima and occupied Japan. I understand that weapons can be used for good in order to protect and control harmful invasions. I’m grateful that we had the ability to kill the rattlesnakes that co-existed in the woods of my childhood home when they threatened us or our animals. I appreciate a good venison steak as much as the next person, especially when the hunting of deer and other animals keeps a lid on overpopulation that jeopardizes natural balance. I’m not anti-gun in general. I’m specific in my prejudice: I am against semi-automatic, rapid-fire, assault weapons in the hands of those who use them irresponsibly and with malice in their hearts. These are the kinds of guns that can spray out multiple bullets more quickly than the human mind can process. These are “unconscious” and “un-conscience” weapons. These are also the kinds of shooters who have allowed their own troubled emotions to get out of control and who have not maintained their moral compass. They have lost their way, and no one has told them that they must not be allowed to fire a gun until their conscience has been found again.
As a person of faith in Jesus Christ seeking God’s will in modern times, the epidemic of mass shootings in our country has changed my heart. I hear no prohibitions against guns per se in the pages of the bible or in the voice to the Holy Spirit. What I do hear, loudly, clearly, and repeatedly, is the prohibition against murder or any human action that leads to the denial of others to enjoy their God-given life. Lately, I’ve become more convinced that the silence of Christians like me in the face of mass shootings and hate crimes is collusion in the denying of God’s children to enjoy their lives. My conscience is picking at me. Yes, I am afraid of becoming a target myself or of putting more innocents in harm’s way. But to allow these horrors to continue is more frightening. To pray while wringing our hands feels increasingly less effectual. Is Christ calling me into uncomfortable advocacy? I had hoped not, but now I’m not so certain. What about you? Can we talk about what uncomfortable advocacy Christ might be asking of us?
Rev. Anita Bernhardt – General Presbyter/Presbytery of Lake Erie