Church’s role questioned

If guns are going to be allowed in the public sphere, they’d better be carried safely.

A church in Texas has recently announced that they will be offering a course teaching individuals how to safely conceal and carry their weapons.

A class on how to carry and conceal a weapon serves an important purpose in a community, especially in one where many individuals own these weapons. While the class teaches you to use your weapon, it focuses on operational safety — an important lesson that should be promoted.

It’s important not to stereotype all gun owners as having harmful intentions. Individuals who’re reaching out to learn more about how to use their weapon appropriately should be given the resources they want — they’re acting responsibly. It’s questionable, however, whether a place of worship should be responsible for carrying out a program related to the secular issue of gun control.

Given the strength of gun culture in states such as Texas, it’s not surprising that a community centre such as the church would offer such a course.

Churches in the southern US states are more than just simply religious centres — they’re pillars of community life. Countless community groups use churches as places of social gathering, not only to practice their faith.

In the South, the situation is understandable, but outside of this small pocket of the population, the church’s role in the classes is questionable.

One thing is certain individuals in the South will defend their Second Amendment rights to use their guns.

Owning guns doesn’t have to be a dangerous practice — as long as they are used safely.

This year has seen too many tragic mass shootings in the US.

In the wake of this, the promotion of education on safe gun use should be seen as a positive step, even if the appropriate provider of this education is still contentious.

— Journal Editorial Board

Tags

Control, Gun

All final editorial decisions are made by the Editor(s)-in-Chief and/or the Managing Editor. Authors should not be contacted, targeted, or harassed under any circumstances. If you have any grievances with this article, please direct your comments to journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca.

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