Why Not Rocket Launchers?
Some New York-area rabbis are planning to bring weapons to High Holy Day services this month to guard against terrorist threats. In June, a Kentucky pastor invited his congregation members to bring their firearms to church to celebrate the Second Amendment. Do weapons belong in worship? Should clergy be armed? Do the Ten Commandments trump the Second Amendment?
I think it is pitifully inadequate for a clergyman to brandish a rifle on the pulpit. As I understand it, grenade launchers can be hand-held. Machine guns are designed, according to my munitions sources, to fit comfortably in the pews. Bookmarks in the Bibles are so inadequate when one can use a Bowie knife to mark one's place, and additionally guard one's flock from the depredations of marauding terrorists. Karate indeed - what an anemic response. Where are the temple anti-tank weapons?
Please. I am not naïve. I know of incidents in houses of worship that would seem hair raising to anyone deluded enough to believe they are all joy and light. There are people who gather around synagogues and churches who are less than savory. But security is best left to, well, security people. That is why we hire and train them. It is what they do. Worshipers should be educated in awareness, not in combat.
If the Priest or minister or Rabbi or Imam is toting around his Uzi, should not the congregation do the same? Do we want houses of worship that double as houses of rapid fire response? Surely there are more rational proposals to possible threats than fostering the Rabbis with rifles association?
There is a price to be paid for everything. We could be perfectly secure on the roads if everyone drove 10 miles an hour. Does the openness, sense of acceptance, and promise of peace enable some wicked people entrée? Perhaps so. But the day that terrorism produces an armed American clergy, a sort of swaggering pistol-pulpit, won't even be the day terrorists win. It will be the day we admit not believing in the power of our message to begin with.
By
David Wolpe
|
September 8, 2009; 2:07 PM ET
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Posted by: spaceship-earth | September 14, 2009 6:58 AM
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Posted by: spaceship-earth | September 11, 2009 6:32 PM
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50K would give me time to think and I could buy a bigger rocket. Then you need a bigger launcher. The size of the trigger is the same. PRESS THE TRIGGER. The press is fun. It can get loud and fast!
Posted by: Dermitt | September 11, 2009 5:06 PM
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Paying is EZ. Collecting can be hard. You lay it out EZ locked and loaded. I have a rocket here and a launcher. Push button. http://twitpic.com/ezlay
Posted by: Dermitt | September 11, 2009 4:51 PM
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There are more dangers than Jihadi Terrorism. Perhaps Rabbi Wolpe will be the first to step up and be murdered if a Spree Killer (also known as an Active Shooter) enters his house of worship. Knowing during his death rattle that members of his "flock" are getting their throats slit and will be soon joining him.
An Active Shooter (a spree murderer) is usually "finished" with his murder spree in two-to-three MINUTES. Active Shooters favor "UNARMED VICTIM ZONES". Think about it.
Police response in less than three minutes from the beginning of an "incident" is nearly impossible.
When the "bad thing" happens, those involved will be on their own to solve the problem, to live or die. That is the reality of dealing with an Active Shooter.
If more "good citizens" were armed (and trained), there would be fewer victims of criminal assaults. Ultimately, we are responsible for our personal protection, the government cannot be with us every moment and I do not want them with me every moment.
There is nothing wrong with guns in the hands of these Rabis who are trained in the use of these tools of protection.
Posted by: Karl_in_Phoenix | September 11, 2009 11:17 AM
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With respect to your earlier column "God is not in the details":
I applaud you on one point David- being the only person, that I have seen, on this site who hasn't endorsed the current health care reform package implicitly or explicitly. Bravo for avoiding the bandwagon and not merging philosophy/theology with the current political winds and personalities.
One point of contention- you say:
"Should everyone have health care? Of course. One cannot imagine an argument that says it is good to deprive people of medical care."
The premise of your last statement is false. Deprivation is not the opposite of provision. Do you understand that? I ask not to be disrespectful but because I have to think that if you did understand that, you would recognize the weakness in your comment.
Thank you anyway for at least being original enough to avoid trying to use scripture, vague moral commentaries, and anything else in the kitchen sink to rationalize HR3200.
Posted by: jebrun | September 10, 2009 11:46 PM
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