Do I Need to Buy a Gun to be Safe?
Gun ownership is a right secured by our U.S. constitution. In 2020 and 2021, Americans took that right to heart, in increasing numbers. According to FBI statistics, there were just under 40 million firearm background checks in 2020, with estimates for 2021 expected to be about the same. Those numbers are roughly double the 20 millon or so in 2014, and 12 million more than 2019…the year before the pandemic. It’s not just baby boomers either, it’s all walks of life, race, and economic status.
If I Trust God, Why Buy A Gun?
If I truly believe in God’s sovereign protection and his lifelong plan for me, they why would I need a gun? I pondred this question for most of my life. Growing up, there were no guns in my family, and in fact I had never really held or fired a firearm. Nor had I desired to, or needed to. As an adult, we had children in the household. With my knowledge of firearms at an even zero, it just seemed like something dangerous to have around.
Admittedly, I wasn’t living in the country, or the projects. The suburbs were safe, and I always relied on God to protect us. I also was worried that if I did purchase a gun, God would see it as a lack of faith. I truly believed that He would protect us, no matter what arose (and I still do). Casually I thought, if God wanted me to have a gun, He’d tell me. Then one day, He did.
The Great Pandemic
As we already alluded to, the pandemic, along with a volatile social climate, caused many to buy a gun for self protection. It was during this time that several things happened in the span of about 2-3 weeks that caused me to pause, and listen to God. He was telling me, “Yeah…go buy a gun now…it’s cool.”
At the age of 55, I had yet to ever fire a single weapon. Even my BB and pellet gun experience could be counted in minutes on one hand, all before the age of 15.
The Truth About Guns
It started with a company bonding trip to the gun range (hey…it’s Texas). I’d never fired a weapon and had the opportunity to fire a variety of hand guns. I considered it an educational, one-off experience. A week later I recounted the experience to my buddy who stated the he had just received his LTC (CCW), the permit to carry a concealed weapon. That was a bit of a shocker to me, but we hadn’t spoken in quite a while so…OK.
The Real Shocker
Then only days later, when the pandemic fear was really ramping up, my bride of 35 years says, “Hey, I know we have never considered it…but should we get a gun?” You could have knocked me over with the proverbial feather when she spoke those words. Guns have never been a part of our lives, nor was there ever any intention of making them a part, yet here we were discussing the inevitable.
Those four unlikely yet related events in an extremely short time frame led me to believe that for whatever reason, God was cool with us getting a gun, and that it was NOT a reflection on our faith, or and indication of a lack of faith.
Gun Ownership A Year Later
A year removed from this decision I am a capable handler of the two guns we own. I carry concealed most of the time. I’m certain God told/allowed me to go down this path, but not fully certain why. I think for every person it’s an individual decision. I have no doubt I was supposed to become a gun owner.
A popular verse to justify gun ownership is Psalm 144:1 – “A psalm of David. Praise the LORD, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle”.
I didn’t lean on scripture necessarily to justify me going out to purchase a firearm in the middle of a frightful pandemic and social unrest…I just felt like God told me….Go do it. At the end of the day, you have to answer to God and justify your actions according to your relationship with Him, and your interpretation of His Word.
Boomer Opinions 