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Today is Bring Your Gun to Church Day
Examiner ^ | June 27

Posted on 06/27/2009 3:41:36 PM PDT by nickcarraway

When it comes to guns, the shepherd of this Kentucky flock is not sheepish—not in the least. In a story about the armed and verbose pastor, Ken Pagano, (“Pastor Invites His Flock To Bring Guns to Church”), New York Times reporter Katharine Q. Seelye quotes the 49 year old machine gun packing pastor, “ God and guns were a part of the foundation of this country”, he says.

So was slavery and the oppression, slaughter and relocation of Native Americans. Some foundations have faults.

Guns are not great. Guns are not evil. Guns are guns. I don’t like them because when they are used for any other purpose than target practice, they bring pain, suffering and death to living beings.

There was a time when gun enthusiasts argued that law abiding people who enjoy the “sport” of hunting have the constitutional right to do so. As gun violence escalates the hue and cry for gun necessity has evolved in the public discourse. The main argument for guns these days is that we need arms to protect ourselves against others who are armed.

Gun rights advocates say gun laws cannot restrict the rights of sane, rational and law abiding people who own guns.

Okay. Let's look at this from a different angle. The problem is not sane, rational and law abiding citizens but rather the vociferous and combative tone that is creating a palpable climate of gun hysteria.

Earlier this week, internet talk show host Hal Turner was arrested on a complaint alleging that he “made internet postings threatening to assault and murder three federal appeals court judges in Chicago in retaliation for their recent ruling upholding handgun bans in Chicago and a suburb”. Saying that the gun control judges should be killed, he posted their photographs, work address and room numbers of the judges.

In her Times article, Ms. Seeyle writes, “Last year, the National Rifle Association ran a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign against Mr. Obama, stoking fears that he would be the most antigun president in history and that firearms would be confiscated. One worry was that a Democratic president and Congress would reinstitute the assault-weapons ban, which expired in 2004.

Reinstituting the assault-weapons ban poses a threat to the 2nd amendment?

Whenever I say gun ownership should be more tightly controlled—gun advocates react not with reason but rage. Consistently I am told that my dislike of guns simply reflects stupidity and cowardice. They say, people have a right to defend themselves and me, not being a gun lover is proof that I don't believe in self defense. Like Pastor Pagano they argue that guns are what made this country great.

Granted, guns have defended this country. But it's guns that make us great? Wow.

Every farmer knows that the climate is what determines the crops and how they grow. What kind of climate is Pastor Pagano and other gun enthusiasts creating?

When it comes to the gathering thunder clouds of ‘guns are great’ hyperbole, I can’t help but believe the low pressure system of fear and arrogance is creating this storm of gun irrationality.

Can we buy some insurance to shelter ourselves from this cloudburst of gun mania?

Surprisingly, yes. Pastor Pagano reports that his church’s insurance company has canceled the policy for the bring your gun (unloaded of course) to church celebration—and he’s been told they won’t renew it. He says if he can’t find an insurance company to cover the bring-your-gun-to-church-day extravaganza, then he’ll cancel the event.

Perhaps the insurance company is conspiring with the divine to create a new definition of the term—an act of God?

Note to Pastor Pagano: Insurance companies manage risks and Jesus saves.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Religion; Society
KEYWORDS: banglist; churchshootings; pastor

1 posted on 06/27/2009 3:41:36 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway
Reinstituting the assault-weapons ban poses a threat to the 2nd amendment?

Yes, it does.

L

2 posted on 06/27/2009 3:46:45 PM PDT by Lurker (The avalanche has begun. The pebbles no longer have a vote.)
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To: nickcarraway

Praise the lord and pass the ammunition......


3 posted on 06/27/2009 3:47:23 PM PDT by jakerobins ( NO)
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To: nickcarraway

Where is the Barf Alert!


4 posted on 06/27/2009 3:47:34 PM PDT by marktwain
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To: nickcarraway

Obviously the 1st amendment should be more tightly controlled.


5 posted on 06/27/2009 3:49:10 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: nickcarraway

“Katharine Q. Seelye”

An example of why obozo is unlawfully occupying the WH.


6 posted on 06/27/2009 3:53:33 PM PDT by lilylangtree (Veni, Vidi, Vici)
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To: nickcarraway

7 posted on 06/27/2009 3:57:04 PM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: driftdiver
It will be under this administration.

Lamh Foistenach Abu!
8 posted on 06/27/2009 4:05:29 PM PDT by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines, RVN 1969. St. Michael the Archangel defend us in battle!)
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To: JoeProBono

Whats with the font?


9 posted on 06/27/2009 5:03:43 PM PDT by DemonDeac
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To: DemonDeac
I have carried for many miles, for many years, always fully loaded. As we speak, all the firearms in my house have a fully loaded magazine in the piece. Why should I want to unload it to go to church?
barbra ann
10 posted on 06/27/2009 6:29:32 PM PDT by barb-tex (I bet Teddy wishes Palin would disappear.)
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