Catholic Church's stance on gun ownership

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Sinnergy

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Hi all,
Not sure if this is the best subforum for this question but…
I’ve been looking for anything to tell me what the Church’s stance is on Catholics owning firearms. I’ve searched the forums and got way to many hits but a random sampling didn’t address this specific topic. I also got impatient Googling it. So I’m hoping someone here can educate me.

I’ve always owned guns having grown up in a military family and served in the military myself. Right now I own one handgun. My primary reason is for home protection but I do enjoy trips to the shooting range. I know the Church says you can, and must, do anything to protect someone from harm, even if it means killing the offender. Like if someone were to break into our house and threaten my family. Not knowing their full intent I would assume the worst and shoot them. With my training it would most likely be a kill-shot, not a wounding. So, that explains my reason for having a gun.

What does the Church say about this kind of gun ownership? Am I in a constant sinful state because I own a gun for the explicit purpose of killing someone if they endanger my home and family?

I would like to think someday my faith may be at a level where I wouldn’t keep a gun because everything is in God’s hands, but it’s not there yet.

Sinnergy
 
I believe the official stance is the “weaver stance” in 2x2 cover formation. JK, talk to a priest if it bothers you. Tim
 
ROFL!!! Good one, Tim! I’ll have to come up with some other things to chat with the priest about. I’d hate to make an appt just to ask that question.

But thanks for the laugh!!

Sinnergy
 
The Vatican is OFFICIALLY in support of the private ownership of firearms as evident by the following statement from the Vatican’s Official Website …
… the right of legitimate defence by means of arms exists. This right can become a serious duty for those who are responsible for the lives of others, for the common good of the family or of the civil community. This right alone can justify the possession or transfer of arms". (Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, “The International Arms Trade: an Ethical Reflection” in Origins 8 (24), 7 July 1994, p. 144).
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As far as actually using the weapon in self defense ann maybe taking a life, I refer you to Part 3, Section 2, Chapter 2, Article 5, Subsection 1, Heading 2, Paragraphs 2263-2265 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church …
The legitimate defense of persons and societies is not an exception to the prohibition against the murder of the innocent that constitutes intentional killing. “The act of self-defense can have a double effect: the preservation of one’s own life; and the killing of the aggressor… The one is intended, the other is not.”
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Love toward oneself remains a fundamental principle of morality. Therefore it is legitimate to insist on respect for one’s own right to life. Someone who defends his life is not guilty of murder even if he is forced to deal his aggressor a lethal blow:
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If a man in self-defense uses more than necessary violence, it will be unlawful: whereas if he repels force with moderation, his defense will be lawful… Nor is it necessary for salvation that a man omit the act of moderate self-defense to avoid killing the other man, since one is bound to take more care of one’s own life than of another’s.
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Legitimate defense can be not only a right but a grave duty for one who is responsible for the lives of others. The defense of the common good requires that an unjust aggressor be rendered unable to cause harm. For this reason, those who legitimately hold authority also have the right to use arms to repel aggressors against the civil community entrusted to their responsibility.
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… So, you are perfectly fine with regards to owning a gun for the purpose of protecting yourself and your family. On the other hand, those who do not own a gun or take other steps to properly prepare themselves to deal with threats to their safety, have failed in this duty required of them – which is a sin of omission and since it is considered a GRAVE duty, the sin would be a mortal sin of omission.
 
Sir_Knight said:
The Vatican is OFFICIALLY in support of the private ownership of firearms as evident by the following statement from the Vatican’s Official Website …

As far as actually using the weapon in self defense ann maybe taking a life, I refer you to Part 3, Section 2, Chapter 2, Article 5, Subsection 1, Heading 2, Paragraphs 2263-2265 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church …

… So, you are perfectly fine with regards to owning a gun for the purpose of protecting yourself and your family. On the other hand, those who do not own a gun or take other steps to properly prepare themselves to deal with threats to their safety, have failed in this duty required of them – which is a sin of omission and since it is considered a GRAVE duty, the sin would be a mortal sin of omission.
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What a stupid comment. That would imply in all countries where guns are banned the entire Catholic populations are permanently in a state of mortal sin. Give us a break.
 
thistle said:
What a stupid comment. That would imply in all countries where guns are banned the entire Catholic populations are permanently in a state of mortal sin. Give us a break.
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Before labeling something as “stupid”, I respectfully suggest that you learn how to comprehend what you read …
  • … those who do not own a gun OR TAKE OTHER STEPS* to properly prepare themselves to deal with threats to their safety, have failed in this duty required of them …
… do you think that there are no consequence in failing to perform a duty that the church tells us that we have? Give us a break! That’s what sins of omissions are all about – failing to do what is expected and required of us!
 
Sir_Knight said:
Before labeling something as “stupid”, I respectfully suggest that you learn how to comprehend what you read …
  • … those who do not own a gun OR TAKE OTHER STEPS* to properly prepare themselves to deal with threats to their safety, have failed in this duty required of them …
… do you think that there are no consequence in failing to perform a duty that the church tells us that we have? Give us a break! That’s what sins of omissions are all about – failing to do what is expected and required of us!
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What a joke. In normal civilised countries guns and other weapons are banned. Our safety and welfare is in the hands of the police force. Apart from locking your doors and windows there is nothing else to do. We don’t go around the house carrying baseball bats or whatever in case an intruder comes in.
 
thistle said:
What a joke. In normal civilised countries guns and other weapons are banned. Our safety and welfare is in the hands of the police force. Apart from locking your doors and windows there is nothing else to do. We don’t go around the house carrying baseball bats or whatever in case an intruder comes in.
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So the United States is an abnormal, uncivilized country?

And remember, when seconds count, the police are only minutes away.

DaveBj
 
thistle said:
What a joke. In normal civilised countries guns and other weapons are banned. Our safety and welfare is in the hands of the police force. Apart from locking your doors and windows there is nothing else to do. We don’t go around the house carrying baseball bats or whatever in case an intruder comes in.
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The police can’t be everywhere. In the US we are allowed to protect our family and property. Legalized gun ownership is the way it is done. In NC we have the carry/conceal law. In some all night restaurants there is a sign posted.

“Attention criminals! Citizens may be armed.”

Oddly enough, those restaurants have never been robbed. 🤷

I guess you have never heard of “home invasion”…it is happening more and more in your large cities.

No, people don’t walk around the house with a baseball bat in the house, if you do…it’s time to “move”. We do have the right to protect ourselves.

While I may disagree with some points of those who are totally pro-gun ownership…I do agree it is their right to own a firearm legally.
 
Gun ownership shouldn’t be the concern…responsible gun ownership is what matters imho.
 
thistle said:
What a joke. In normal civilised countries guns and other weapons are banned. Our safety and welfare is in the hands of the police force. Apart from locking your doors and windows there is nothing else to do. We don’t go around the house carrying baseball bats or whatever in case an intruder comes in.
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I live in Canada, and I am in favour of gun control.

To be fair, in a large city, the police are 3 or 5 minutes away after you make the call.

In a rural area, the police could take over an hour to get to your house.

Your argument is rather weak, as you are suggesting that citizens do not have the right to defend themselves within their own home with a firearm, instead they have to wait for an undetermined amount of time for an armed response.

I’m in favour of gun control and I just don’t like your argument of having to wait for someone else to help you…instead of adequately being able to defend yourself.

My argument for gun control is that there are way to many iresponsible gun owners and way too many children who are injured and killed from improperly stored guns.
 
thistle said:
What a joke. In normal civilised countries guns and other weapons are banned. Our safety and welfare is in the hands of the police force.
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So, you are basically DISAGREEING with Church teaching on this matter ( Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, “The International Arms Trade: an Ethical Reflection” in Origins 8 (24), 7 July 1994, p. 144] & CCC2265). You realize, of course, that AUTOMATICALLY places YOU in the WRONG because the CCC is the authentic Catholic teaching on Catholic norms and morals as stated in it’s introduction by Pope John Paul II.
 
Sir_Knight said:
So, you are basically DISAGREEING with Church teaching on this matter ( Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, “The International Arms Trade: an Ethical Reflection” in Origins 8 (24), 7 July 1994, p. 144] & CCC2265). You realize, of course, that AUTOMATICALLY places YOU in the WRONG because the CCC is the authentic Catholic teaching on Catholic norms and morals as stated in it’s introduction by Pope John Paul II.
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It is NOT our obligation to be tooled up with some kind of weapon in anticipation of being jumped on when in the street or asleep in bed. The Church does NOT teach that. Don’t be ridiculous.
 
thistle said:
What a joke. In normal civilised countries guns and other weapons are banned.
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This is untrue. Even the most rabidly liberal countries allow guns, as long as it’s not of the concealable kind. France, Germany, Japan, England, etc, all allow citizens to own hunting rifles, for instance.

But if we should all trust the police, why do politicians in these same countries have body guards with concealed weapons?

And then, there are those very uncivilized countries like Switzerland where every man must have an army-issued rifle, loaded and ready for action.

:blessyou:
 
Sinnergy said:
Hi all,
Not sure if this is the best subforum for this question but…
I’ve been looking for anything to tell me what the Church’s stance is on Catholics owning firearms. I’ve searched the forums and got way to many hits but a random sampling didn’t address this specific topic. I also got impatient Googling it. So I’m hoping someone here can educate me.

I’ve always owned guns having grown up in a military family and served in the military myself. Right now I own one handgun. My primary reason is for home protection but I do enjoy trips to the shooting range. I know the Church says you can, and must, do anything to protect someone from harm, even if it means killing the offender. Like if someone were to break into our house and threaten my family. Not knowing their full intent I would assume the worst and shoot them. With my training it would most likely be a kill-shot, not a wounding. So, that explains my reason for having a gun.

What does the Church say about this kind of gun ownership? Am I in a constant sinful state because I own a gun for the explicit purpose of killing someone if they endanger my home and family?

I would like to think someday my faith may be at a level where I wouldn’t keep a gun because everything is in God’s hands, but it’s not there yet.

Sinnergy
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Just don’t try to spiritualize gun ownership, I guess that’s the only thing.
 
thistle said:
It is NOT our obligation to be tooled up with some kind of weapon in anticipation of being jumped on when in the street or asleep in bed. The Church does NOT teach that. Don’t be ridiculous.
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Now you are creating a strawman argument in an attempt to make your point. I never said that we have an obligation to toll up with some kind of weapon in anticipation of being jumped.

I said that according to church teaching, we have a duty to defend ourselves **** and others under our care from death and serious injury ]. The best way to fulfill this duty IN MOST CASES would be with a firearm and the church is in support of the private ownership and use of firearms for THAT reason as reflected in the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, “The International Arms Trade: an Ethical Reflection” in Origins 8 (24), 7 July 1994, p. 144.

I further went on to say that those who do not own a gun OR take some other steps to properly prepare themselves to deal with threats to their safety, have failed in this duty required of them and have committed a mortal sin of omission because the church refers to this as a SERIOUS duty.

To which, you argued that we do NOT have a duty to protect ourselves and that rests in the hands of the police which is in direction CONTRADICTION to what is found in the eaching of the Catholic Church as found in the CCC2265 which represents the OFFICIAL teachings of the Church – thereby, making your position INCORRECT with respect to Catholic Church teaching.
 
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