You know when I first started doing this blog, I thought every once in a while I would get to exhibit my jocular and humor-loving side. It's actually a pretty big side of me. I've long since concluded that it's impossible to make it at all on this planet without the ability to laugh a whole bunch at a whole bunch of things. I do . . . all the time. It's what has kept me sane. (along with chess and baseball and books and poetry and my dearest wife). But the state of things here and elsewhere just keep intruding on this good intention. I never run out of things in the news of the day to be frustrated about. There's always a plethora of things.
Take today, for example. I intended to reproduce my letter to Senator Obama about his execrable vote on the FISA bill last week, but this story intruded even on that. (I'll get around to the FISA piece eventually, I assume.) Are you ready for this? As an incentive to get kids to attend a youth conference, Windsor Hills Baptist Church in Oklahoma City offered the enticement of an AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle giveaway. Have you got that? A frigging free military weapon to some kid to come hear all about Jesus! A FREE ASSAULT RIFLE TO A TEENAGER. What can possibly be in the minds of these people? Do these people have minds? The offer was withdrawn once it became public on television, otherwise, one presumes, some lucky teenager would have a free assault rifle to go along with the joy of salvation. The pastor, one Bob Ross, says his intention was not to give the weapon to someone who would not "respect it," and then "go out and kill."
Well, really, Pastor Bob? I'm glad you told us. What you really meant was to give a free military assault weapon to some normal hormone-crazed half-wit ravaged by unresolved emotional issues--anybody got a better description for teenagers? Plus, what in the name of all that's holy (literally) do military weapons of any kind have to do with Christianity? I have to quit now . . . before I launch myself much further. Peace be with you.
5 comments:
Why oh why oh why did this have to happen in Oklahoma? (Not that I would have wanted it to happen anywhere, mind you.) But, sheesh, do we need more bad publicity after Sally Kern’s diarrhetic verbiage launched forth from that cavernous maw she calls a mouth? After reading your blog entry I mentally flashed to the trendy abbreviation, “WWJD.” I had to wonder if this type of person (a pastor no less) ever pauses--for even a millisecond--to actually consider what Jesus would have done, given a certain set of circumstances. Or is this just a “kewl” abbreviation to wear on lead-free pewter jewelry? Perhaps they use a different abbreviation at this church: WFWJP (What Firearm would Jesus Pack?).
I hate to intrude upon your bigotry, but "semi-automatic assault rifle" is an oxymoron.
Assault rifles, by definition, are "machine guns" capable of firing more than one shot with a single pull of a trigger. If it is "semi-automatic" it is NOT an assault rifle in any way shape or form.
The AR-15 platform is never and has never been a "military weapon."
Semi-automatic knock offs of military rifles are exactly the same in function as any other semi-automatic rifle. The only difference is in aesthetics.
It just so happens that the AR-15 platform (small caliber with low recoil, high velocity with a flat trajectory, mechanically simple and reliable operation) is especially well suited for competition target shooting, which is part of what has made this type of rifle one of the most popular platforms on the market today.
You can disapprove of giving away a free rifle at a shooting competition (which is what this was...sponsorship by a church notwithstanding), but demeaning the type of weapon because it looks scary to you is just irrational bigotry, pure and simple.
I assume that you are aware of the Department of Justice study that determined that youth exposed to firearms in a supervised, educational setting are less prone to delinquency and drug use than those who are exposed to firearms illegally, and even moreso than those who are never exposed to firearms at all?
Teaching kids to shoot is a good thing. It builds a sense of responsibility and self-respect. Giving away a firearm at a competition is a common occurrence and is a good way to reward kids for their participation as well as to encourage their continued involvement in this healthy and rewarding sport.
Thanks for the gun lesson; always glad to learn something new. I certainly didn't mean to "demean" this particular weapon. I hate all of them equally. Which, of course, means I'm no bigot.
No, you're still a bigot, just a more generalized one.
Don't be a hater.
Sailorcurt, you're missing the point entirely.
If you can't see the problem with churches offering guns--no matter what kind they are--as an incentive to kids to come and attend services (which is ultimately the goal with a youth conference), then you just don't get it. Think about it. Did Jesus ever once garner a weapon? Ever?
Baysage isn't a hater or a bigot. He's lamenting the utter ridiculousness of this marketing ploy.
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