BY : Kayla Koslosky | ChristianHeadlines.com
The issue of gun control has long been a major issue for many Americans. While some Americans believe the U.S. needs more comprehensive gun control laws, others believe increased restrictions will hinder their Second Amendment right to bear arms.
Here is what five Christian leaders have said about gun control:
gun on the ground
SAMUEL RODRIGUEZ
In a 2013 interview, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference President Pastor Samuel Rodriguez argued that gun control is not a political issue but an issue of protecting God’s creation.
“As Christ followers, we must show no commitment to a donkey or an elephant, but exclusively to the lamb. Gun control is not political, without a doubt,” Rodriguez said.
“We must champion the imago dei, the idea of the Image of God, which is that everyone is valued and every life has great worth. It is easier to pull a trigger if you don’t recognize the image of God in the person in front of you,” he added.
Also, in 2013, Rodriguez joined more than 4,000 religious leaders in signing and sending a letter to U.S. lawmakers asking for the introduction of gun violence prevention legislation.
Following the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, that left 21 people dead, Rodriguez spoke about mental illness and gun control at a revival called “The Plow of Hope” in Boston.
“We have to keep pushing the plow of hope. The number one crisis in America is mental illness and young people embracing a virtual world and attempting to bring it into the real world,” Rodriguez said.
“The loss of the most vulnerable speaks to the fact that we live through dark times. There is a collective sense of despair. … This young man (the Uvalde shooter) was living in darkness. What defeats darkness is the light,” he added. “We must pray with actions. We can’t expect our elected leaders to provide solutions.”
In a subsequent interview with ReligionUnplugged.com, Rodriguez called the rising number of mass shootings “an awakening for us” and offered three steps toward protecting young people.
“Churches should hire a mental health minister; schools should work toward having a single entrance; and thirdly, the age to obtain a gun should be raised to 21,” he asserted.
“We believe in the Second Amendment, but we must have prudent and common-sense approaches.”
Photo courtesy: ©Jens Lelie/Unsplash
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/STILLFX
About The Author
