‘Mass shooting' reported at Sutherland Springs church in Texas

[pnewton]

I just heard that the shooter was a residence of New Braunfels. Yes, this is pretty close to home. I have spent a lot of time there. My daughter lived there for several years. My in-laws still live on block from the route from there to Sutherland Springs and attend Mass a block off that route at a rural Church at St. Hedwig that could have just as easily been the target of this man. My wife has a deep affection and ties to the priest there.

 

[Jig_Saw]

He meets 2 of the 9 categories of “prohibited persons”…meaning they are not legally allowed to possess or own firearms.

Identify Prohibited Persons | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

People ask for “common sense gun control.” We already have “common sense gun control.”

Note, a legally owned and operated firearm stopped the murder/mayhem.

Yes, it will be interesting to learn how a person who has no legal right to own a firearm and may have been under court supervision was able to obtain one with this amount of power and have it all over his social media and no one in law enforcement picked up on it.

Edit to add: Do we really have common sense gun control if the laws are violated so easily?

 

[sallybutler]

Actually, the law-abiding citizen was a neighbor who did not attend that church (or most likely any church since he was home at that hour. Just speculating on that one). Make friends with the people who live around your church and don’t attend.

 

[pnewton]

You know what they say about people that assume.

In this case, your assumption is flat out stupid. I will refer you to the Church’s teaching on rash judgment.

 

[Xystus]

Are you saying that we should be packing when we go to Mass?

Do you/would you carry a concealed firearm to Mass? Catholic Living

Do you, or would you carry a concealed firearm to Mass? Given all the crazies in this world should parishes have safety plans where certain members who are properly trained (some ushers?) carry firearms and perhaps pepper spray at Mass? How does the killing of 26+ innocent people at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas on Sunday, November 5, impact your answer?

 

[OneSheep]

Apart from politics, though, when will this madness end?

The madness will end when we create a culture that centers on the values apparent in all religions, to love and forgive one another.

When we have campaigns for presidency built upon common resentments, we create a climate of resentment, correct? And when we create a climate of resentment, when we reap resentment, we will also sow the same.

When will we reap forgiveness, mercy, and compassion? We Catholics should know that the Kingdom is built upon values such as these, not upon fear and resentment.

 

[exnihilo]

The madness will end when we create a culture that centers on the values apparent in all religions, to love and forgive one another.

Not all religions promote love and forgiveness. Christianity isn’t really close to most other religions. It is substantially different.

 

[pnewton]

Your understanding of Church teaching seems to be quite clear on that point.

Again, you are not being very good at making assumptions of others. Please stop.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yes, another example of America’s gun death cult

Seems to me the major “death cult” is in the media. Wonder what would happen if they didn’t make a big deal out of these in the media. If, indeed, some of these killers do it for a perverse notoriety, removing the notoriety might help a great deal.

 

[Annie]

Being pro-life or anti-abortion/euthanasia means I am against people murdering innocent human beings. Being against draconian gun laws means I am against murder also. If a murderer were to attempt to kill me or one of my children, I would like to be permitted to have an effective means of defense.

The Catholic Church teaches that abortion is wrong always and everywhere. The same Church also teaches that we have the right to self-defense.

 

[lmachine]

Why don’t you start your own gun control thread, or use one of the ones already active, at least while people are still in mourning?

If you want to speak of respect, start by showing some for the dead.

I think it shows a lot of respect to the dead to indicate that their lives had value and we should do what we can to prevent future tragedies like this one.

Anyone worried that someone might try to minimize their deaths if they happened to be killed in a mass shooting can sign the Politicize My Death pledge now:

Politicize My Death

 

[lmachine]

As always after mass shootings, the updated Onion story:

‘No Way To Prevent This,’ Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens

 

[Annie]

Strawman much?

**

 

[Annie]

Seriously, though, many rural areas have little police coverage. The reason they remain safe is that so many rural people own guns and know how to use them.

 

[Boatswain2PA]

At this point, it will be one of two things:

1. Muslim shooter: Nonstop calls for his execution or how America is at war with Islamist terrorists.
2. Non-muslim shooter: Well, let’s talk about all the good things we can do with guns.

I’m sorry for being flippant, but I think I’ve entered a point where hearing stuff like this doesn’t even affect me anymore. It’s just the new normal.

Slight correction.

1. Muslim shooter…how Islam terrorists are at war with America.
2. Non-muslim shooter - we almost always find out the murderer was a prohibited person anyway.

 

[marybobo]

And what do you propose we do about the millions of gun already in the hands of responsible gun owners as well as those guns that have been stolen or purchased illegally.

 

[Boatswain2PA]

Boatswain2PA:

Stopped (and potentially killed) by a law-abiding citizen with his legally owned firearm.

It always ticks me off when liberals try to politicize tragedy. Conservatives doing the same thing is just as reprehensible, uncouth, and insensitive.

What gun control measures would you suggest? I think we have many “common sense” gun control laws…would you propose we add any others??

Why don’t you start your own gun control thread, or use one of the ones already active, at least while people are still in mourning?

If you want to speak of respect, start by showing some for the dead.

You have the freedom to get “ticked off” by necessary, and respectful, discussion how we can/should balance our 2nd amendment rights versus the dangers of firearms.

Meanwhile the rest of us have the freedom to not care about what ticks you off. Isn’t freedom wonderful!

 

[Boatswain2PA]

Boatswain2PA:

Stopped (and potentially killed) by a law-abiding citizen with his legally owned firearm.

Are you saying that we should be packing when we go to Mass?

If you feel that you have the training, ability, judgement, and intestinal fortitude to sacrifice your life for others…then yes, we should be allowed to carry during mass.

I am the guy who you would WANT sitting next to your family if something like this happens. I, and many of my brothers, would be the ones running TOWARD the gunfire…I would like to be able to be armed when confronting such evil.

 

[Boatswain2PA]

I guess the “Culture of Death” that Pro-Life parishioners are so passionate about does not extend to gun violence because that would interfere with your right to own a gun. I guess you have the right to control what a woman should do with her body, but nobody has a right to tell you what you should do with your gun. Your understanding of Church teaching seems to be quite clear on that point.

Of course our concern for the “culture of death” carries over to gun violence. We have significant, common-sense gun laws that make it illegal for people such as this murderer to own firearms. Furthermore, stating the obvious, we also have laws making it illegal to commit murder. So these laws are attempts to control what people do with their firearms.

The same thing with abortion. I don’t care what a woman does with her body, just like I don’t care what somebody does with their firearm or vehicle…up to the point they are harming someone else. THAT is where the culture of death comes into play.

Lastly, as others have said, Church teaching allows for self defense and defense of others.

 

[lmachine]

Take them away, obviously.