What does it say about our state of mind in America when five students are gunned down in a college classroom and the story fades from the headlines almost immediately? The murder-suicide incident on February 14^th at Northern Illinois University made the national news for a few days and now is barely mentioned. Considering the fact that every day 79 people are killed by firearms in America it’s no wonder we are numb to the stories about guns and death

This week the U.S. Supreme Court reviewed a challenge to the District of Columbia’s gun control laws. With one of the nations highest crime rates, the District took drastic action, banning private ownership of handguns. A ban supported by law enforcement that is struggling to contain the violence caused by handguns. Outside the Supreme Court this week, 2^nd Amendment supporters protested and held up signs, one of which said, “More Guns Less Crime.” Not hardly.

According to Stop Handgun Violence there are an estimated 192 million guns in America, including about 65 million handguns in the hands of civilians. Since 1962, more than one million Americans have died in firearm homicides, suicides and unintentional shootings. 40% of American households with children have guns. In 1997, gunshot wounds were the second leading cause of injury death for men and women ages 10-24 years of age. Guns in the home are the primary source for firearms that teens use to kill themselves in the U.S.. More Americans were killed by guns in the 18-year period between 1979 and 1997 (651,697 according to the Centers for Disease Control) than were killed in battle in all wars since 1775 (650,858). The CDC reports that toy guns and teddy bears have more federal manufacturing regulations than real guns. The medical costs from gun injuries and deaths costs an estimated $19 billion, with the U.S. taxpayer pay half of that cost. The emotional pain and trauma suffered by the surviving victims and their families is incalculable.

And yet…there is no real discussion or political will for gun control in the U.S. The voices of a million moms several years ago were quickly drown out by the National Rifle Association and gun owners. What does it say about us as a country when we allow such violence to overtake us without a whimper or even a serious discussion? So many people want to label the United States as a Christian nation, do they truly believe that Jesus would own a gun or encourage his followers to do so?

Even though a 1998 survey (by the National Opinion Research Center) found that 85% of Americans want mandatory handgun registration and a background check and a 5-day waiting period before a handgun is purchased instead of gun control advocacy we are instead considering further expanding the rights of gun owners. The Interior Department is reconsidering regulations restricting loaded guns in national parks. The proposal is being protested by current and former National Park Service employees who say a plan to rescind the ban on guns in national parks amounts to surrender to the NRA. There have also been several attempts to legalize concealed weapons on school property and to allow loaded weapons in the cockpits of planes. Have we all gone stark raving mad? More guns equal more violence and more death. Gun advocates don’t seen to get the connection. Our fear-based society encourages the belief that carrying around a loaded weapon makes you safer. What do you own that would be worthy of engaging in a gun battle to hold on to?

Recently, a woman’s purse was stolen from a Greenville area grocery store restroom. Inside the woman’s purse was a loaded gun. Think about that when you are checking out next time…if the woman standing beside you drops her purse and the safety lock isn’t engaged you could get shot standing in line. Do you feel safer now?

The Greenville Journal reports that the Brady Campaign, a gun control lobby recently gave South Carolina eleven points out of a possible hundred on their annual score card which evaluates state’s laws on firearm trafficking, firearm background checks and child firearm safety. South Carolina earned only two points out of a possible twenty for its laws on protecting children from guns. South Carolina came up with zero out of a possible twenty five points in the category that addresses background checks. The question is does anyone in a position of authority even care about gun laws in South Carolina?