The NRA Rally and Gun Fever

The NRA 150th anniversary dog and pony show goes on, and so does the American gun sickness.

Even though twenty-one souls were taken from their loved ones in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday, the NRA’s “Grand Ole Night of Freedom” will still take place in Houston starting on Friday and continuing through this Memorial Day weekend.

Serving as its 150th anniversary, the preeminent pro-gun lobbyist group bills the event as a celebration of

“Freedom, Firearms, and the Second Amendment.”

The roster of speakers includes the former president, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Senator Ted Cruz. Texas’ other US Senator John Cornyn pulled out of the event after the shooting, citing “scheduling conflicts.”

The lone remaining musical guest is Jacob Bryant. Don “American Pie” McLean, Lee "God Bless The USA" Greenwood, Larry Gatlin, and several other country music performers were also scheduled to perform at the event but cancelled. McLean said that he felt it would be

“…disrespectful and hurtful…to perform.”

He also said

“I’m sure all the folks planning to attend this event are shocked and sickened by these events as well. After all, we are all Americans.”

We are all Americans, but we are not all slavishly obsessed with firearms.

So obsessed that almost twenty kids and two adults can be slaughtered in an elementary school classroom, and the same narratives are being proffered.

“It’s a mental health issue.”

“We need to arm teachers.”

“People are politicizing this issue.”

Two of those statements have some basis in fact.

Yes, going into a school and killing innocent children and teachers is indicative of a warped and depraved mind.

But it is no less warped and depraved to think that Americans have a “God-given” right to own handheld weapons of mass destruction.

It is no less insane for America to watch as day after day, month after month, and year after year, this country demonstrates that it is the world’s largest shooting gallery.

And yes, the issue is politicized, and the chief political agent involving guns is the NRA.

The NRA is the Frankenstein’s monster, the Hessian mercenary, the obsequious foot soldier that gives voice to this depraved philosophy.

The fact that they aren’t postponing, or better yet, cancelling this event, speaks to a disturbing level of hubris, given that the event is being held in the same state where this tragedy occurred.

This is not a Texas problem.

This is not a southern state problem.

This is a nationwide sickness that places greater value on hunks of metal than it does living, breathing humanity.

Don’t come at me with the tired trope “guns don’t kill people, people kill people.”

People are using guns to kill people in stupefying, horrendously copious quantities.

The politicians and musicians appearing at the event are on the NRA’s payroll.

The other people who argue against reasonable, logical gun control are doing the NRA’s bidding for free.

I’m a Christian.

I’m a pastor.

I’m all about prayers.

But the Bible says that “Faith without works is dead.” (James 2:17)

I will continue to pray.

But my thoughts won’t be internal.

I won’t stay silent.

I will use the voice God gave me to speak out.

What will you do?