Guns and Drugs and Safety.

I am so frustrated with the goings on and ideas being presented in our culture after the tragedy in Newport. So being as how this is my only real outlet, here I go...
The problem in this situation and many others like it is not guns, or bombs, or knives or whatever other weapon you can imagine. The problem is the people who are holding the weapons. The problem is that we live in a world where many people come from broken homes, broken parents, broken friends, broken EVERYTHING and the outcome is that generally they themselves become BROKEN.

broken (adjective):

1. Having been fractured or damaged and no longer in one piece or in working order.
2. Rejected, defeated, or despairing.

It is ridiculous to expect broken people to make whole, thoughtful, non selfish, moral decisions. I am not justifying people making these sorts of decisions I am just recognizing that it is the nature of the beast. We are a spiritually fallen race. We are apart from the peaceful and whole life that God intended. Taking guns away is not going to solve this problem, it is only going to make vulnerable the people who actually deserve to be armed when those who don't deserve it STILL get a hold of weapons because THEY WILL. You cannot punish EVERYONE for the mistakes of few especially when the the concept behind the punishment, stricter gun laws, won't actually keep the wrong people from getting them. Look at drugs. Stricter drug laws? That has worked out REAL well. Drug use has increased every year according to drugabuse.gov. Drugs are illegal right? Mhm.

Next, at the risk of upsetting some of you, why is it that anyone assumes there is any real safety anywhere?

safety (noun):

1.The condition of being protected from or unlikely to cause danger, risk, or injury: "They should leave for their own safety."
2. Denoting something designed to prevent injury or damage: "a safety barrier"; "a safety helmet".

What does safe mean? Are you safe in your home. Yes, until someone decides to break in. Are you safe at the movies? Yes, until someone decides to show up with a gun. Are you safe at the mall? Yes, until someone plants a bomb. My point is that random acts of violence by the above mentioned people can and will happen ANYWHERE at ANYTIME. If a crazy person wants to be crazy no matter how strict any law is, they will find a way. There is no such thing as safety, just the illusion of it. You aren't even safe in your car on the way to the grocery store because everyone and their mother seems to think driving under the influence is okay. WHERE ARE YOU SAFE? REALLY? If someone can answer that honestly please do, because I am of the honest opinion that safety is something we tell ourselves we have in order to function.

All that to say, the only solution to any of these problems is Jesus- and even your belief in that won't keep you safe. It will allow you to live without fear, knowing that he works everything for the good of those who love him. But look around people- we aren't safe, we haven't been for a really long time and it isn't going to get better by taking guns away or adding an extra deadbolt to your door or wearing your seat belt. Safety is not a reality in our culture. Period.