Christians can claim religious right to bear arms, in addition to Second Amendment right

Let’s pretend Christianity is a religion in which its followers believe Jesus is the source of guidance for living a proper life. To aid in this pursuit, the Bible has been passed down as the rule book for living. The most fervent believers hold that the Bible is the word of God and that his word is not open to interpretation. As a mass movement, these Christians have made the most recent contributions to shaping western civilization, ending slavery, establishing Sunday as a day of rest, and numerous other traits which we pretty much take for granted in our modern society .

There is, however, one clear instruction given by Jesus that goes totally ignored – Luke 22:36: “Then said he (Jesus) unto them, ’But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his script; and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.’ ” Can anyone deny this is a pretty clear instruction to arm oneself? Swords never really had any other purpose except to stick into one’s fellow man. It is easy to understand why Jesus did not suggest selling one’s garment to buy a gun – there was still considerable time before guns would become the logical upgrade from a sword.

Why does this piece of information have any bearing on anything? In the same way some Native Americans have been able to circumvent the various drug laws by claiming peyote is an integral part of their religion, Christians have every bit as substantial a claim to gun ownership as an integral part of their religion. Such a claim is secured by the First Amendment and supported by the Second Amendment.

Any further worry about disarmament by the government really should be left to those who cannot make a claim of religious rights.

Walt Briggs,

Missoula