LETTER TO THE
E DITOR Americans need faith
Dear Editor: The recent deaths from gun violence are absolutely heartbreaking. I cannot imagine the pain endured by the victims’ families. As if a horrible situation could possibly get any worse, all the “experts” are trying to pass laws that have no chance of solving the problem. Yes, I am talking about gun control legislation.
If gun control worked so well, why are our cities a war zone? In 2021, there were 1002 gun-related homicides in Cook County (Chicago and surrounding suburbs). That’s about three a day, folks, in a city with the strictest gun control laws in the nation. Other major cities are not far behind.
Besides being ineffective, most of the proposed legislation is unconstitutional, since the 2nd Amendment clearly states that the right to bear arms “shall not be infringed.” Shall is a legal term, meaning absolute, no exceptions. Period.
To further understand the complex problem of gun violence, I listened to Lucretia Hughes Klucken’s testimony on June 8 before the House Oversight Committee. Her 19-year-old son was killed by a convicted felon with an illegal gun. She states, “My son’s death was the result of a criminal with an evil heart, and a justice system failing to hold him accountable for the laws he had already broken. A convicted felon killed my son with an illegally obtained gun. Our gun control lobbyists and politicians claim that their policies will save lives and reduce violence,” Hughes reminded. “Well, those policies did not save my son.”
She continued, “I am a walking testimony of how the criminal justice system and the gun control laws-which are steeped in racism by the way--have failed the black community. Gun owners are not the enemies, and these gun control policies are not the solution.” I strongly suggest you listen to her whole testimony.
Is there a solution? Whatever the answer, it starts by putting God back in the equation and supporting families so the father is present in their children’s lives. Just a quick history lesson. In 1962, the case of Engel v. Vitale came before the Supreme court, with the Engel side suing over a prayer that was recited each day at school. The prayer read, “Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and our country. Amen.”
One parent found that simple prayer offensive, sued, and won. In 1963, prayer of any kind was banned. How many children prior to 1963 were killed in mass-school shootings? Zero. Zilch. Nada. Since 1963? About 240 innocent victims, starting in 1966 at the University of Texas. Also since 1963, the divorce rate now approaches 50 percent, the Supreme Court said it is legal to murder unborn children, and with welfare, the government has replaced the father in children’s lives.
The problem is not gun owners. The problem is the absence of God in our culture and in our daily lives. We’ve kicked Him to the curb and expected politicians to solve our problems. Obviously, it’s not working. Only when God is part of the solution, will the answers become clear.
Pamela Jaffke Owen
