Church cancels 'Gun Giveaway', gun to be given away next year

Mooch? I have done this with others, I'll do it here too. I will respond in a Q/A format breaking up and editing your post. It's easier that way.

1)A church has a shooting competition, in which there is a gun given away a AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle. This even comes under scritinization that the pastor hurt himself and the event was cancelled, I’m sorry here’s where I stand:I don’t think a teen should be given a weapon like that
A) The bible says to train up a child in the way he should go... A well trained teen may be safer than an unskilled kid who thinks he knows what to do.

2)worst case scenario someone got into the competition and won the rifle and then went on a crime spree afterwards?
A) How likely would that be Mooch. You have a country of nearly 400 million people? How many of those own and carry assault rifles? How many of them are nut bars? A guy flips out and drives his SUV through a crowd of people. Maybe we should ban ownership of SUVs. Someone kills someone with an axe? Maybe we should ban them too dammmit...

3) My husband thinks that it is perfectly acceptable for a church to give this away……it’s a shooting competition after all.
A) I agree.

4)Ok my next argument is why a church? How does this jive with a Baptist Philosophy of love others, though shall not kill blah blah blah,
A) It's fine because the word translated as 'kill' is actually better translated as 'murder'.

5) My argument with my husband is not about free speech, the right to bear arms, the right to own the gun, if a PARENT thinks a teen is responsible enough to own a weapon like this they should give it to them and use it under supervision, NOT A PASTOR.
A) Well it would seem logical to me that the parents already know what's going on here. They would already be approving of this.

6)If I could cut and paste my argument word for word with my husband I would, I don’t think its right, I think its wrong…. This is not about religion, this is not about rights to owning a gun, this is about a church who holds a shooting competition and puts a serious weapon in the hands of a teenager.?Is this right?
A) I think it is. I don't see anything wrong with it at all.

Mooch (PS I was called one of the moodiest most tempermental people on mylot, and I guess this is why)
A) Hmmmm Could be...

This post contains content of a mature nature. You must be Signed in or Registered to have the option to view this content.

hmm i thought you had to be over the age of 18 to beable to won any gun. i do not think the church should do this. after all they are providing a wepon that possibly could be used for murder wich is a sin. so its like them giving a child every tool to sin byt saying dont sin.. doesnt make since. i think there should be a law aginst this deifnatly. i mean i fele this way even if it wasnt a church or somee pastor. no one not even a parent should beable to give a gun to a child and him actually own it. i meanokay if you wanna take a son out to go hunting at the right place and at the right time. on the right animals. let your son use one of your guns, and take it right back froom him.... dont give a child/teen acess to a gun any other time.

I really enjoy most of your discussions, they are always about something important and not just anything. I had to check out the article just to read it in full before i commented to the discussion. For some reason it's taking that article a long time to load. But this is what I feel about that one. For a church to do something like that is wrong. They could have picked anything else other than a shooting contest or a gun for a prize. I agree with what you have stated if someone got hurt from the gun the chruch would be looked down upon. In this day an time baring arms is one thing. Then to have something like this. I think that they should have give away a gas card instead of the gun.

have you thought that it might not be a teen to win!?
Way back when towns held these kind of competitions and if ya had the entry fee ya got to shoot and it might very well the pastor of that town that was the judge or one of the judges.
Out here in the west kids get Rifles young and they go hunting with dad or a group of hunters they are taught from an early age to be responcible with it Sorry Mooch but I agree with your hubby.

I will never understand the need or want of guns. Sure they can be fun and give someone power, however they cause so much pain most of the time.

I definately agree that teenagers should not be given guns as a prize.. Especially a semi-automatic assualt rifle. If you really wanted to do the contest maybe make the prize lessons at a gun club or something. I think teenagers shouldn't have guns in the first place... but if they do they should definately be supervised.

I agree with you Christianity is all about love and peace. I really dont' see how guns fit into that picture.

hi oneanddonemakesix,
I guess, it depends on the age of the child. I believe that a 14 and up can handle a gun, a semi, I am not sure why a church would even think of that kind of gun, but, I am in a state where young kids are shooting and hunting and it is all good, if you are taught and raised with guns, then this is different. I thought like you until I moved into this state that in the last 15 years, I have been around hunters and hunter's families. Children are out there learning too shoot by the age of 6. Yes, one could get carried away, but in today's world, if a person of any age wants a gun, they will find one. Black and White.

But, I am still wondering why a church would give a gun away, that is a semi-automatic, that makes no sense to me. however I could see a rifle, or hand gun.
I know that must children who receive guns the adult male who ever it is ends up with it, way before the child ever gets to really use it.

I did not look at the article, however, depending on the State, hunting and such is very popular, and this maybe one of those states, that just wants to encourage a child with the responsibilities and advance learning on hunting. I think the Gov't should look into why a semi-automatic is given, that is way out there. But, some people's children, I never will understand them. have a bless day

Oh, I agree, I don't think it's the churches place to give a teenager a gun! I mean, maybe a supersoaker or something.. LOL But seriously, this sounds like a horrible idea. I have to wonder why a church would even host a gun competition like this? I mean, it's one thing for an adult to have a gun for protection, or even a parent to take their kid hunting and teach them how to use a gun for that purpose (or even protection), but I feel that if someone wants a gun in their house and they have kids, it should be locked in a cabinet or something. But wow, a church handing out a gun? Just not right. And it isn't really a religion thing I guess, but it kinda brings religion into it when the church did this.

But yea, I am ok your side for this argument, because there is a reason kids can't buy guns, they are not developed enough, they are still not completely in control of their impulses, and I could think of a million other reasons. But if a parent thinks their kid is ready to learn to use they should be the ones to initiate the process, that way, they are responsible for their child's actions if the kid snaps and uses the gun for illegal or dangerous purposes. Instead of like you said, the church would take a lot of stuff for giving the gun to the person, in the case of something bad happening!

mooch I do not think an assualt weapon belongs in the hands of a teen ager or even in the church itself as I thought those weapons are banned in the US. Anyhow I think a semi automati assault rifle should be back in the armed services not floating around out in a shooting contest for petes sake. as for you being
'the moodiest I dont think so, but just keep on being mooch and stand up for what is right.

I imagine this business about a church having a gun giveaway is purely a cultural thing that has to do with traditions in that part of the US.
Nowadays, with all the violence and crime in abundance everywhere, obviously guns and giveaways of the same cannot be a recommended thing.
But it is hard for people to give up their traditions even if they run against what might be appropiate in these times.
I agree with you.
In times like these we should abort guns and all they mean.
The town council in that town should ban this, but I guess they might not.