Gun Control

Okay, I am going to say this as clearly as I can.  I do not think that guns are evil.  Guns are inanimate objects.  They have no ability other than being manipulated by the hands of man.  There is no one in this world who feels any worse about what has happened so many times in our country when it comes to innocent children losing their lives at the hands of evil people.  But that is the problem, evil people.  No inanimate object can be evil in and of itself.  It can be used in an evil way, or it can be used in a useful and productive way.  It is the mind of a man that takes and turns something into a tool of evil.

Now, do there need to be restrictions?  Yes.  I am all for making our public safer.  Do we need to make it more difficult for evil people to acquire weapons like those used in Newtown?  Yes.  I believe we do.  We also need harsher punishment for selling weapons without registration of those guns.  This goes against a lot of the conservative thinking but I am all for making it more of a crime to use any weapon to kill another human being.  It isn't the weapon that killed it is the person wielding the weapon that cause the fatality.  We need to be more strict in acquiring guns.  But, it does not need to punish those who are law abiding and caring citizens by banning any weapon. 

Stricter applications and licensing for all guns is perfectly fine with me.  But, you will take my guns out of my home under major protest, and major being I wouldn't want to be in the shoes of those who walk up to my home to take my guns.  As long as I am alive, I'll be the last one in America to have their guns taken away.

I am sorry for the tragedy we have seen over the last week and the 69 other school incidents involving guns and schools since 1994.  It saddens me and makes me ill to think that anyone would hurt another human without provocation.  I am reminded daily of a personal situation in my life where no guns would have allowed someone I thought a lot of to live.  However, the evil of the other person allowed them to steal the gun they used to kill with.  Evil in a person turns a gun against the innocent, not the gun itself.

I'll see you later.

Holidays

Bah...Humbug! 

Yes, that is the way I felt for years about the holiday season.  I didn't dislike the holidays as much as I realized how many times in my life that was the time that I felt so inadequate as to what and how to treat this special season.

I have always enjoyed giving gifts and seeing my children open their gifts has always been a wonderful experience.  Now seeing my grandchildren doing the same thing also brings a special feeling of joy.

My problem has always been the world's view on the "commercial aspects" of Christmas and the entire holiday season.  When this time of year is motivated by the purchasing of items and the guilt they spread for not purchasing the "best gifts" for those you love.  I am not good at picking out gifts.  I guess that is one of the things I inherited from my dad.  He always gave credit to "Nay", JoAnn,  his wonderful bride of over 30 years.  And he is right in doing so.  She is the gift picker for that family and does a great job.

My wife also does most of our gifting.  I am thankful that she does.  She is good at it and can filter some of the things I feel are special for the season and special for our children and grandchildren. 

I love giving gifts, but there is an underlying aspect I want you to think about.

My greatest gift has never been as important to me as it is now.  The greatest gift I have ever received I was given by God.  His Son!

I want Jesus to be the gift I share with my family above all other gifts.  I want to keep Christ in Christmas. I want more than anything to see my children and grandchildren be faithful loving children of God so that they may receive the gift of an eternity in heaven with God.  If I can give that gift to my children I have given the best gift I believe has ever been offered.

Then it will truly be a holiday and it will last through all the season.

I'll see you later.