By Bryant Muldrew

The recent school shooting in Connecticut is an awful tragedy. Many are discussing what new guns laws our country needs in order to combat mass shootings such as the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Is the answer to this immoral act more gun laws?

We know that the young man who committed this act of violence broke several gun laws when he stole the guns. He took the guns without his mother’s permission. We also know that she was the legal owner of the guns that were used in the killing. If he was willing to break guns laws to commit this act, how would additional gun laws have stopped him from shooting 26 children?

The truth is no amount of gun restriction would have stopped this young man or anyone else from committing such a crime. So what is a real solution?

Before answering that question we have to ask ourselves a set of prerequisite questions. What caused the problem in the first place? Were the guns the cause of the violence? Could he have committed murder without guns?

Many will disagree with me, but it is obvious that the guns were not the cause. There was a person who use the guns to do something wrong but the guns themselves cannot commit murder alone. Therefore taking the position of blaming the guns is irrational. In addition, we see murders being committed by many others who do not use guns. So then we know that this young man could have still killed people without guns. So what is the root cause of this tragedy?

I’m a very religious and subscribe to the bible. I believe that it is an instruction manual for living that many ignore. I believe that the bible is where we will find the answer.

Hosea 4:6 reads:

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” (KJV)

For those who believe in God, this statement should shock you. Many ministers do not discuss what God really says to His people. Notice it says that God’s people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge, but this knowledge isn’t the knowledge of your standard education. This knowledge is the law of God. Note that God says we have forgotten His law so He will also forget our children. So here we see that people aren’t being protected because they do not possess the knowledge of God’s law. This is the root cause of the problem: we as a society have forgotten the law of God and as a result God has removed His protection.

It is critically important to understand why we need to know God’s law. There are two main reasons:

1.        God’s Law shows love to others if followed to the letter
2.       God promises protection if we follow His commandments

Notice what Paul said:

“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Rom 13:8-10 KJV)

Paul says that any other commandment can be comprehended in, “thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” This is a powerful statement. What Paul is saying is that the law of God requires us to love our neighbors; working no ill will against them. What this means is if we keep the law of God to the letter, we would work no ill toward others. This includes killing. If only we would realize how important it is to follow God’s law, we would see a dramatic change in social relationships.

But what about the promise protection? God says this:

“O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!” (Deut. 5:29 KJV)

If we keep the commandments of God, it will be well with us and with our children forever!!! Not some of the time but forever. This is only one of the many promises God makes to those who keep His commandments. If you believe in God, then you also need to believe what He says. We know that if we treat others with love, they are likely to return love. This is the real solution to mass shootings. We must follow the law of God; showing love to others.

As for me, I am not opposed to firearms neither do I think that more gun laws will solve the growing trend of mass shootings.

For more on what God says about the condition of the world and His law, watch this video: Mourners of Elementary School Massacre Search for Answers

Also read our article A Lesson in Sin: Knowing the Law. This article discusses why it is important to know God’s law.