The Second Amendment

The faith community has clear convictions. The war in Vietnam was morally wrong. The war in Iraq was morally wrong. Christian judgments of war run a narrow spectrum -- from the peacemaking ethic of Jesus that rejects war, to the just war theology of Augustine and Aquinas. But even in the just war tradition, conflicts have to pass a number of moral tests and be the option of "last resort." The burden of proof is always on those who support violence to justify the taking of life.

The Second Amendment to the US Constitution has been interpreted to allow 1,280 people to die from gun violence since the Newtown, Connecticut in December 2012. The burden of proof is on those who support the Second Amendment to justify this taking of life on a daily basis. None of the 1,280 deaths pass a number of moral judgements in the Christian tradition. Owning guns should be the option of "last resort" for Christians.