Guns, Murder and Drawing a Line in the Sand

By Rodney Richards

Times have changed, everyone. Let's get it through our heads that times have indeed changed. And we cannot stay behind the times any longer, or we face the annihilation of all of society's hard-won mores and values.

    On the subject of guns, the line has been drawn in the sand.

In my country, U.S. legislators today stand on one side of that line, with all the power and authority needed to halt—or at least slow down—the further spread of gun violence by individuals. The public and the press increasingly call on our representatives at all levels of government to cross that line in the sand and take action, by effecting reasonable controls on the proliferation of gun violence in this country.

    Will U.S. leaders withdraw their specious arguments surrounding the interpretation of a constitutional amendment adopted over 224 years ago? The American Constitution’s Second Amendment was clearly based on a "well-regulated militia" and not on unlimited ownership of military-style assault weapons. In my opinion and the opinion of many, restrictions passed by the courts are both reasonable, necessary, and not strict enough.

    But reasonable gun controls are not really the true “line in the sand” issue. The issue is a simpler one: Should murder be allowed to take place? The moral and social law regarding murder was established well before current laws or the Constitution. Humanity has yet to truly adopt this exhortation and binding law to the fullest degree.

    God recorded the Sixth Commandment in Exodus 20:13: “You shall not murder.” The year was 1393 B.C.E when the great leader and prophet Moses was born. Some 80 years later the Burning Bush was resulted in the Exodus over a period of many more years. During that time Moses descended Mt. Sinai and gave the Hebrews the Ten Commandments.

    God gave everyone the Ten Commandments, as evidenced by their adoption in both Christianity and Islam ever since. The prophets of God do not contradict each other in relaying God's Plans to humankind. God values life highly—and wants us to, as well. Therefore "You shall not murder" is the line drawn in the sand by God Himself, and how abominably man has failed to follow it since! But that doesn't have to continue. For God has not only promised peace on Earth, but eternal peace as well – if we can get there of our own accord by taking action to right the ills of humanity. We can do that by following the eternal spiritual law:

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live. - Deuteronomy 30:19.

I charge you all that each one of you concentrate all the thoughts of your heart on love and unity. When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love. Thoughts of war bring destruction to all harmony, well-being, restfulness and content. - Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks p. 29.

These truths are self-evident, universally acclaimed by men and women of reason, parents of dead children, and victims without count. Are we men and women of reason? Or will we remain no better than the animal? 

This first appeared on BahaiTeachings.org in 2015

Here's an added thought:

    The problem is not guns, although terrible in peacetime and when unrightfully used. The problem is not murders for there are murders without guns, even murders of the spirit thru poverty and injustice and oppression.

    The real problem is a human being's intention to commit murder. That is why it is a unique law in itself. That is the problem we must solve -- eradicating that intent. -- Rod