Any time our country finds itself at a place
that holds the potential to define all our futures, honest, open, respectful,
emphasis on listening based dialogue is critical.
When I here people begin their comments with
“Any reasonable person…” alarms me.
When I here “No responsible person would disagree…” I am disturbed. Regardless of where a person may stand
on the issues of gun control, a conversation that most certainly needs to lead
to meaningful action, there must be a commitment to work tirelessly to
understand the positions, values, beliefs, and passions of the people opposite
to our own ideas. If conversations
begin with “No reasonable person…” or “No responsible person would disagree…”
then no effort is being made to listen, only insult. No conversation where a person attempts to strengthen their
position by framing the other person as unreasonable and irresponsible will be
productive. This is one of our
greatest political impediments as a nation. This impediment is at the root of our inability to pass
legislation that results in meaningful action in response to the lack of access
to healthcare by too many citizens, legislation that will return this country’s
fiscal stewardship to the very principles that made us the wealthiest nation on
earth, legislation that will continue to advance ethnic equality, gender
equality, and social equality, and legislation that results in meaningful
action to have a comprehensive plan for how we as a nation can responsibly arm
our citizenry, for personal defense, wildlife management, and sporting
recreation.
In February of this year my own personal beliefs
about the ownership of guns evolved.
I had never considered owning a handgun, much less carrying one
concealed on a daily basis. My
view changed as I listened to others with whom I would have previously
disagreed. I listened. That is not to say that listening to
someone will always alter our beliefs and values. But if our beliefs and values are in need of changing,
tempering, evolving… then listening to others is the only hope. And if in our listening we still
disagree, why do we need others to be wrong in order to make ourselves feel
more right? That is not strength
of character but rather grossly misguided insecurity. One of the great strengths of any society is to champion the
coexistence of diverging values.
For me, I came to the conclusion that I was not
living at my fullest possible potential.
I believe that if an opportunity arose where I found myself in a crisis
where the lives of others were threatened, that my courage would not fail me
and I would act. This is how my
father raised me, God bless him for always teaching me by his very example of
the selflessness that manhood demands.
I realized that my actions, if ever required, would be grossly
inadequate unless I was better prepared.
I obtained my concealed carry permit, took a class, copious research, committed
to hours at the range, concentrated on developing muscle memory responses for
various scenarios…I decided that any possible future crisis deserved an effort
from me that was far greater than what presently existed. My potential as a citizen of this
Commonwealth that stirs my heart, of which my children are the tenth direct
generation to walk upon the sacred soil of Virginia from when Abraham and
Suzanne Michaux first arrived here the 1700’s, needed to climb. My ability to serve others in a time of
need that may demand lethal force existed at an elevation that placed me as a
victim when I had the potential to be a responder, to aid, to rescue, to
sacrifice.
Already a conversation has begun here in
Virginia regarding allowing teachers to be armed. To those who oppose this course of action, I would only ask
that a conversation be allowed to advance, towards an outcome that is not yet
determined but one that can and must be the result of a conversation that is
characterized as being honest, open, respectful, and an emphasis on listening.
For me, I think the idea is to let people live
at their full potential...for example, if a teacher is a former police officer and
can pass a rigorous qualification process by the Virginia State Police, why
wouldn't we consider allowing that person to live up to their potential in
every possible setting, especially if that potential holds the possibility of
saving lives. I would humbly suggest that part of the discussion in our society
presently needs to also be how to limit the perceived vulnerability of people,
how to project the ability to offer a sturdy response to any threat scenario,
as opposed to our present situation of being too easily identified as victims.
The complexity of what lies ahead is
immense. But I am convinced that
whatever decisions that will best serve humanity for decades to come must be
born out of all the divergent values presently competing for influence. May we all pray for those in authority
over us as Scripture compels as these decisions are reached, “…that we can live
peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.” (1 Timothy 2:2)
Pastor Fred
