MURDER, IS IT A GUN OR MORAL ISSUE?

 I was reading this morning and the method of how Cain killed Abel is not detailed. In Genesis 6-8 it says:
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?

7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”[d] While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

My thought during this scripture read is directed to all of the gun talk. The debate of the method is still ongoing whether it was a rock or spear as Cain’s name references but it was not important to describe. It was the MURDER, the crime and the first criminal that is described.

What we need to focus on is work on removing the hate, the absence of morality, and yes, the mental illness instead of the method. Whether it be a rock, a bomb, a gun, a knife, or any other method a criminal decides to use to take a life is, it is the horrendous act of violence. I will make this statement “Rape is a form of living death as a person’s spirit dies from that cruel violation. Do we ban a man from having his male parts?” I say this to bring focus to what is really wrong in this country.

Before all people who believe in gun control, I don’t see a need for an assault rife to be in the possession of a civilian, but neither do I think immoral possessions of any kind should be in a home. When we decide what is violence provoking, think of tv shows, mean, hate rhetoric coming out of the mouths of our celebrities, politicians, comedians, and public figures and yes, our neighbors.

Do I think we need to have discussions about safety of our most prized asset, our children? By all means, yes! But talk is cheap; action both in the home, work, church, community is far more important. I heard someone say the other day about how when we were in school we didn’t have to worry about school shootings. That is a fact but also we didn’t show disrespect to our teachers, parents, neighbors. We didn’t have drugs sold by fellow students or at least I never saw or heard of it. My father who was a policeman laid his pistol on his dresser but I can assure you NONE of us children would have dared pick it up. Respect and the fear of discipline took that temptation away.

I ask everyone to stop and think with logic and common sense. If you allow yourself and your children to disrespect or make vile comments about others, how can you ask others to respect you and your family? I haven’t cared for a lot of politicians’ views and I still use the only respectful criticism, my VOTE that makes the most impact. Cherish that right as much as you cherish your opinion about the issues and policies.

As all of the country debates this gun issue, why don’t we discuss returning to a civilized world where I may have a different opinion and/or idea but I will respect your opinion? In other words, we will agree to disagree but work together to build a better world. Evil didn’t begin with a gun, and not having a gun didn’t stop Cain or anyone else who has evil in their heart. Prevention begins with love and respect for our fellow man…..Arline Miller