How The Religious Right’s Second Amendment Rhetoric Has Pervaded The Gun Debate
BY Herschel Smith
6 years, 8 months ago
Earlier today, Kyle wrote about right-wing pastor Chuck Baldwin’s recent assertion that it is a “biblical requirement” that every person own an assault weapon like an AR-15 and that Christians who don’t do so “have denied the Christian faith.”
Baldwin’s comments were eyebrow-raising, but fit in a pattern of the Religious Right’s attempts to rewrite American history and reinterpret the Bible to argue that not only the Constitution but God Himself requires unrestricted access to weapons of war.
We’ve put together a video showing some people who have made this argument, from Gordon Klingenschmitt, who insists the Bible says “all the citizens ought to be armed so they can defend themselves against left wing crazies,” to Family Research Council official Jerry Boykin, who has said that when Jesus returns he’ll be carrying an AR-15.
And of course the video includes David Barton, the Religious Right’s favorite purveyor of bogus historical arguments, claiming that the Founding Fathers called the Second Amendment “the biblical right of self defense.” (Barton also believes that the Second Amendment guarantees every citizen’s right to own a fighter jet.)
As Americans debate gun law reform after the mass shooting at a Florida school earlier this year, the Religious Right’s influence on the conservative movement’s rhetoric about guns is often overlooked. But as the NRA’s Wayne LaPierre made clear when he spoke at CPAC this year about the unrestricted right to bear arms being “granted by God to all Americans as our American birthright,” the Religious Right’s language on guns has become a pervasive part of the Right’s rhetoric around the Second Amendment.
Well, Mr. Baldwin wasn’t careful enough. I’d say that defense of home and family is a Biblical requirement, but I wouldn’t say that the Scriptures dictate what weapon you use. We mustn’t go past the Holy Writ in our pronouncements.
As for the notion that the founders believed that self defense was a Biblical idea, they certainly did. We’ve seen already how the Calvinian doctrine of covenant was pervasive in the founders’ charges against the King and the early days of the colonies. All this “Right Wing Watch” has to do is a little study and they can come up with something better than this silly article. We have also seen how the Scriptures support, and even demand self defense as the apex of obedience to God’s law of love.
So if you need scholarship, don’t turn to something like the Right Wing Watch, whatever that is. Hey, now that I think about it, how do I draw the attention of these creeps?
On April 4, 2018 at 8:13 am, Fred said:
I don’t know, Herschel, This seems like pretty sound reasoning to me:
“a duty to provide for your family, but you cannot provide protection for your family without being equipped to do so.”…“Therefore, you must have the means of self-defense,” Baldwin said. “And in our society today, that means a firearm in the similitude of an AR-15. Without that, you are not in a position, you are not even able to protect not just your family and your house, but your neighbors, your community around you; that we, as a community of people—that’s the militia—are given the God-given responsibility to protect our communities. That is a biblical requirement.”
Jesus didn’t say to the apostles to sell their coat for a mace or a garrote or a sling shot, He told them to get the common and most practical weapon of defense of that day, a sword. I think Pastor Baldwin does a fair job of explaining the responsibilities of a thinking man in todays America. The “not even able to protect” without an AR is a little hyperbole so yeah, there’s that. But he’s not a gun guy nor self defense advocate, he’s a pastor and political commentator. I use a rifle at home although it’s not my primary waking hours weapon. So I concede your point there, with qualifiers.
He has also said that “When the AR-15 is outlawed, I will be an outlaw.” I’m certain that you’re pretty good with that statement, no?
If you’re new to guns or self defense and this seems like a dumb inside argument, you’re right, it is. As 2A activists and self defense advocates we never tell somebody who is compelled to say, take karate, that they should get a gun instead but I would point out the advantages of a stand off weapon. So, if you feel a need for a certain type of defense training we say that you should pursue it. Start where you are.
The writer of the article however, thinks his readers are retarded. He throws out so much misdirection, mis-information, and half truths in a few short paragraphs it’s simply stunning. He should move right up the gubmint propagandist ladder rather quickly I would think.
On April 4, 2018 at 9:34 am, Herschel Smith said:
But Fred,
What if a man doesn’t happen to like the idea of shooting a rifle inside the house and opts instead for a fatter, slower round like the .45 ACP shot from an FN .45 tactical flat dark earth finish with a tac light on the rail?
On April 4, 2018 at 10:40 am, Fred said:
NOT nearly tacticool enough. Try again, sir. It’s neither scary, nor black, nor does it have a shoulder thingy, and I would always recommend a rail mounted rusty chainsaw especially for beginners.
All joking aside guess what the right gun is? It’s the gun that YOU feel comfortable with, it’s the gun the fits YOUR hand, it’s the gun that YOU love enough to practice with regularly, it’s the gun that YOU trust enough to leave chambered always, it’s the gun that by God’s grace YOU never have to use but that YOU are willing to deploy.
A man shouldn’t like the idea of shooting anything in the house but Cain killed Able and here we are.
On April 4, 2018 at 11:05 am, moe mensale said:
“So if you need scholarship, don’t turn to something like the Right Wing Watch, whatever that is.”
Right Wing Watch is a socialist website dedicated to exposing us deplorable, intolerant, extremist, bible reading, gun owning dirt peoples. :)
On April 4, 2018 at 11:07 am, Herschel Smith said:
@moe,
Outstanding! Now they know who I am. I invite the traffic. It gives me more Google power.
On April 4, 2018 at 1:31 pm, H said:
I know you don’t share this opinion, but I can see America being harshly judged for so pervasively adopting a direct impingement design….
On April 4, 2018 at 1:35 pm, Herschel Smith said:
@H,
Oh poppycock and balderdash! Mine works fine, and it does so hundreds and hundreds of rounds before cleaning. The problem always has to do with poor machining tolerances, weak buffer springs and poorly made BCGs.
; – )
On April 4, 2018 at 8:31 pm, Ned said:
H – is this what you mean? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kzfm4pYhIyY
On April 4, 2018 at 8:37 pm, Ned said:
Or this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlL-uRkJ0yA
On April 4, 2018 at 10:57 pm, Ned said:
To be fair, this one ran much better: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwSJiAwoMpY