Last night, amidst the unfolding story about the San Bernardino shooting and, of course, the resultant firestorm of opinion on social media, I began to join the online fray.
I have been more conscious lately of all our Internet ambulance-chasing, and this compelled me, for instance, to hold my tongue and refrain from offering any Big Opinions on the Paris shootings until a week or so after. In fact, I didn't really weigh in at all, just posted some thoughts from other leaders. But the continued, near-daily gun violence in the U.S. is just too clear an issue for me to not speak out against whenever I have the opportunity.
Of course, today the reports are coming in to the effect that the San Bernardino shooting may have a lot more in common with Paris than other mass shootings in this country. That is, it appears to be at least somewhat religiously-motivated, a form of violent jihadism, the kind of thing that we more readily identify as "terrorism." If at some point we can connect this killer couple to a larger terrorist network like ISIS or Al Qaeda, it will stand out even more as something different from the usual American shootings by nihilistic white males.
And already, the bevy of Republican hopefuls are capitalizing on this difference. This, for them, is the grand "I told you so" -- it's ISLAMIC TERRORISM that's the biggest threat to our country, not GUNS! We don't need more gun control, we need more national security and defense! (This, of course, stands in direct contrast to the Democratic response, which was immediate in calling for change to our gun laws in order to decrease these shootings and keep in step with the rest of the developed world.)
But I want to offer a strong, "No!" to the suggestion that the difference here -- which is a real difference -- somehow overshadows or nullifies the similarity. Because in addition to the terrorism we see, there is a terrorism that is too-often invisible to us. It's the terrorism nurtured and fomented by elements of our own culture that are, let's be honest, far more deadly to our own citizens on our own soil than the forces of violent jihadism. The circumstances are unique, sure: but perhaps what San Bernardino proves once and for all is that the results are exactly the same.
Innocent people shot dead en masse.
With assault-style guns.
As followers of Jesus, the impotence of our response is now clearly on display. Many of us are far too ready, willing, and able to side with our chosen political ideologues than we are to desire justice so passionately we'd beat every gun we own into a plowshare if it meant there was a shred of a shred of a chance these deaths could be reduced.
Many of us are already busy nurturing and fomenting the culture in our country that leads to heart-wrenching violence -- whether by stoking fear and hatred towards Muslims and refugees or calling for the increasing armament of the citizenry in the name of patriotism and security (while profiteering capitalism just keeps doin' its thing). Regardless, Christians are, in this case, and perhaps unwittingly, fueling the fires of a terrorism that goes unnoticed, that becomes sanctified and deified and, I daresay, drenched in all the glorification of holy war.
The two go hand in hand. If we want to see global terrorism decrease, then the fear and anger that causes us to hate an entire religion and people group must decrease. Receiving refugees and forming interfaith friendships would be like a dagger in the heart of ISIS. And if we want to see domestic, white terrorism decrease, than the fomenting of violent rage in the name of patriotism, freedom, and security in the form of glorified gun proliferation must decrease.
We must radically change this sick culture.
Which is to say, we must control, regulate, restrict, and get rid of guns.
As many as humanly possible.
And fast.
Because the next lineup of American terrorists are fearing and hating and arming themselves to the teeth as we speak.
And in a matter of mere days, there will be more innocent blood on our society's hands.