Musing Without a Reaction

A very large number of you read Robert Avrech’s piece, Jew Without a Gun, last week. Some of you mentioned how powerful it was when we met at my husband’s North Carolina appearance. Others of you emailed me privately. I was surprised, though, by how few of you left comments on the Musing site. I thought a huge discussion would erupt and instead only a few souls chimed in with their thoughts.

Without hearing from you, my imagination ran wild. Did some of you delete it in disgust? Did it disturb you so much that you quickly clicked on a YouTube video of a frisky puppy or a cute two year old? Were you shocked to discover that (at least some) localities see the function of the police as cleaning up after a crime rather than entering a volatile situation in order to protect citizens? Are you afraid of Big Brother or social consequences so that you don’t want to comment publicly on an explosive topic?

In all fairness, I privately react to blogs I read much more frequently than I comment. I’m certainly not Caesar’s wife far above reproach here. But I really wanted to know your reaction. My husband and I moved away from Los Angeles shortly before the riots broke out. Many of our friends were impacted, though not as vividly as the Avrechs. Yet, whether you were in L.A. or not, what happened was a stark reminder of how thin the veneer of civilization is and how quickly a situation can spin out of control. I tend to think that many police officers wanted to protect the public but they were held back by the “powers that be.” I certainly believe that the press suppresses stories where the presence of good people with guns inhibits criminal behavior or saves innocent lives.

Robert Avrech is a talented writer; more importantly, he is a thoughtful citizen. After the tragic Sandy Hook school shootings, I wrote, “I believe that most citizens who are signing petitions and urging gun control laws are well motivated. I also believe that most citizens who oppose gun control measures are well motivated. Unfortunately, I can’t give the same benefit of the doubt to most politicians.… If the administration and Congress want to exploit this tragedy, gun control will be the only issue targeted via legislation even if others are addressed with verbal platitudes.”

How do we ensure that we create more good and thoughtful citizens; that we have a press that reports news rather than pursues an agenda; that we don’t wake up one day to find out that we have lost those rights that have made America a beacon of hope and freedom? I don’t know the answers to these questions, but I do know that we need to have this conversation.

 

 

 

Comments

[Carol Brady]

Dear Susan,

I was one of the people who posted a comment on the article by Robert Avrech. I thought it was an article worth sharing so I posted on my facebook page. I have almost 200 friends/acquaintances and only two of them commented on the post. Here are their responses. I have removed the names due to privacy.

Comment #1: Wow! What a powerful piece. While I don't own a gun, I fully understand that they are a necessity in some places but most of all, the right to purchase legally and own a firearm if we so choose is what we need to protect. It is our right and we cannot let them take that freedom away. Thank you for posting this, Carol Brady.

Comment #2: Worth the reading and perfect point of why we do not want any legislation taking our rights away.

The person who wrote comment #2 is a former police officer, social worker, and teacher. Needless to say, this person has some experience in the line of duty and with the mentally ill.

I do not know why people did not comment; in this day and age when emails, Facebook pages, phone logs, and everything else are available to the government without a subpoena it's a sure thing some people are going to moles rather than eagles. I applaud your posting the article; we still have free speech in this country and we need to keep it alive as long as possible by doing our part.

Shalom,

Carol

[[email protected]]

i just read it and thought it was very well written. i've read and commented much on facebook about this same thing- what would it have been like had we, as jews, been able to defend ourselves, instead of blindly giving things up when the crap began to hit the fan. well, the first round may not have had a clue, but now we have no excuse. it sickens me to think that so many jews are on the gun-control side, completely oblivious to the history of governments taking guns away from the citizens. i'm so happy you shared this and hope others learned from it, whether or not they enjoyed it or commented on it! thanks susan!

[Carol Lindley]

I read your post and did not comment but thought that it was an excellent example of people needing to be able to be "armed" if they choose to be. I am a Christian and forwarded it to a friend who has her own "Christian" oriented website, where I thought that she might post the link. She replied to me that it was an "excellent rendering of a frightening time", although I do believe that she does support the second amendment and I don't know why she did not comment on that issue.
I have personally tried to give some thought to the issue of gun control and one time had a conversation with my dear now passed on to be with the Lord, mother, who told me that she thought that the most compelling argument for gun control was the fact that children "find them". While I tend to agree with her and have never kept a gun in my home, I also agree with people like Michael Medved who want to do all that can be done to protect the second amendment from political abuses. I think that the current argument for more control is more politically motivated than genuine concern for safety and I am opposed to it. While all of us with functioning hearts were hurt by the tragedy that occurred in Connecticut, most people seem to agree that the situation might have turned out better had the principal, or someone at the school, been armed to defend the children inside. I support people like retired military and police who want to have guns in their homes, as well as anyone else who knows how to use them and keep them safely as best that they can. Guns are not the only dangerous things in the world.
I am a new reader of this website. I was interested in Rabbi Lapin's talk at the Legislator's Conference and looked at his website when I saw your post, Susan. Thank you for sharing and being interested in my thoughts also!
G-d is good!

[Jim]

Susan,

I have been lurking long enough and just enjoying your column. With your prompting, I will make a comment or two.

First of all I am a strong proponent of the 2nd ammendment and can relate to this fascinating story easily. It was very well done. My feelings about guns is they are like a parachute, if you ever need one and do not have it, it is unlikely you will need another.

The only thing I question was what kind of car he was driving. Lexus is what he said, but unless I am wrong, the first one to hit the states was in 88 or 89, not before the LA riots. I guess it was a mistake, but an excellent and thrilling story.

[TJ]

I thought it an excellent read, point well made, no need to add to it. thats why i didn't comment. I do hope that he is a Member of Jews for the Preservation of Firearms.. because he'd be a top salesperson~!

as to the issue.. what is REAALLLY needed is a proper education of the concept of the Constitution.. where the government.. HOW the government, obtains its power to operate, and the limits described therein.

As a Libertarian, i find it discouraging that the "right" seem intent on using government to restrict people in areas which they find immoral or repugnant, in the same way the "left" likes to use government to restrict people in areas they fear and or don't understand.

If the Left felt the same way about Guns as they do about Sex education, every HS student would be required to take a gun safety/ beginner target shooting class..

if the Right felt the same way about Drugs, or marriage, as they do about say guns, freedom of religion and Free market Capitalism, i dont' think we'd have many issues to argue about, except maybe whether or not we should be invading other countries or accepting illegals, and maybe healt... ok.. so we'd still have plenty to argue about..

hopefully you see my point though.

[Darcee Michele Cacibauda]

Thank you, Susan, for the posting of Robert Avrech's article. Kind of a long read, but no doubt, it pulls you in and drives the point home. I'll do my part and share same on my Facebook page in hopes that it generates a read and opens the eyes of those who are blind on this issue. In the meantime, from a southern Catholic girl with Jewish roots, I want to thank you and your husband for the wonderful job y'all do on Ancient Jewish Wisdom. Look forward to our thirty minutes together daily.

Shalom,
Darcee

[Ginny]

Susan,

I read the article last week, it was very "thought" provoking....I am personally againgst any more gun laws, the ones we have need to be enforced....

The things that make America great are very, slowly and effectively being taken away, this makes me very sad...I am a senior citizen and I dont recognize my country some days...

Sorry that I didnt comment last week, it just didnt occur to me to do so..

Peace and blessings,

Ginny

[Jimdyl]

Hi Susan, and bless you. I did not comment because as a screenwriter, he did all the work for me. He told a complete story that happened on the other side of the TV screen that we watched 20 years ago. We saw the Denny beating from the outside, he saw the mayhem from the inside. It left me quiet. I do not know what is coming, but there are some ominous signs in our increasingly virtual world. The media is a combative place, especially at lightspeed. I don't know what will happen as the welfare state reaches it's limits. Will the fools at the top find new duct tape, bandages, and storylines? Will we boy scouts need to use and share our guns and food storage? I believe that a significant part of the population will continue to stay in touch with the Lord and follow Him through this storm. As the fools at the top do everything wrong, we become more concerned and look to our hearts and each other to be the government as originally designed.
Jim

[Crystal]

Susan,

I really appreciated your guest post last week and forwarded it to several people. One person is a relative who was in LA during that riot, though he lives here in WA state.

My husband and I enjoy reading what you & your husband write every week. Thank you for having the courage to speak God's truth.

[Shannon Spillane]

Dear Mrs L.,
Sometimes, the point is so well made- no further comment could possibly enhance the well thought out argument.
Mr Avrech's post is one such argument.
Without the 2nd Amendment in the Bill of Rights, the other 9 cannot exist for long. Nature's Law, The Law of our Creator insists upon it.

Cheers!
Skwerl

[Marie-Anne]

Dear Susan,
I did not comment because I agree that the good guys need guns because the bad guys have them and use them to hurt/kill the good guys. It is pretty simple. The bad guys don't care about legalities. This is not about controlling guns--President Obama and liberal politicians are trying to controlling people. They can't control the bad guys because the bad guys don't care to be controlled. They are trying to control the good guys, especially the good guys who do not vote for them. We must never give up our God given right/responsibility to protect ourselves and our families. This is not a right that government should try to take away.
Thank you for posting Robert Avrech's essay. Personal stories are powerful.
Marie-Anne

[Susan Urwin]

Dear Susan,
I sent the article to several friends, and was so moved by it that I am planning to take a gun course and then buy a gun. I have never had a gun, but always thought - why didn't the Jewish people and others in Europe just shoot the SS troopers when they came? I didn't know that the government had confiscated all guns. I see that the only reason for "gun control" is the same as it was in the 1930's and 1040's - control of the citizenry. I am not so much thinking of getting a gun for my own protection, but for defying tyranny. I have always wept inside over the horrors of the holocaust...having to use a gun is something I would rather not think about, but putting my head in the sand is making me an ostrich, and uses no courage at all.
May God have mercy on us all.
blessings, Susan

[Teresa Rex]

Susan,

I thought it was a very powerful and moving story and a good example of why we need to be able to defend ourselves. I agree with everything the previous comments spoke of. I am sick and tired of the media and this administration using a tragedy to further their agenda. In the words of Rahm Emmanuel "never let a good crisis go to waste".

[Art Carnrick]

Susan
I sent this article to my wife and friends and "liked" your page on Facebook. I was unable to figure out how to post to Facebook. This was the best story on gun control I have read to date. Thank you...
Art Carnrick

[Marianne]

Susan,
First I must thank you for a well thought out posting each week. You never fail to help me look at an event or an issue with new eyes. Today, for instance, I learned that I can leave a comment. Now that I know this, I will.
As for the posting of last week, I was moved to show my entire family and most of my friends. Thank you for sharing the true life experience of your friend. I can remember the news reports of the truck driver who was pulled from his truck, and my Dad commenting "Too bad he didn't have a gun".

Marianne

[Lynn C. Perrizo]

Susan,
Forgive me for not commenting last week. Robert's story spoke volumes. I sent it to others but I do know that people who so blindly believe that
gun control is the answer will never be able to understand the situation Robert and his family were in or see how a gun would have been helpful. They also have no concept of how our constitution works or of history. They are duped and are willing to forfeit our freedoms for a security that is only imagined. Thank you for posting it. I will save it and show it to as many as I can. If they will only listen.
Blessings,
Lynn Perrizo

[aren Jones]

Dear Susan , I thought it was wonderful . Then I told my husband . We went gun shopping on Monday! Probably no one commented because we all saw the truth in the article and guickly went to look up the nearest gun store!!I do think we should have gun and safety classes for kids and militia training possibly also as graduation requirement ,,, I know that is pie in the sky and who wants more government interference and I agree also but my mind likes to think about how it could be done. My Dad had guns he was a hunter and my brother and I knew how to handle them safely. Gun accidents are a tragedy that can be improved. More education less Accidents, more time to focus on antisocial and mentally ill people .I love the show by the way! Have been watching for a couple weeks now and that is how I found your blog. Karen

[Biblefan]

The article was wonderful. I am from Georgia so our household has several guns but I thought it was a wonderful picture of what going out into the world on a daily basis is like if you do not have God's Word inside of you as a shield and guide. I read the article to our youth group and then taught a lesson from scripture on the importance of having God's Word as our weapon! Thanks for sharing the article!

[Susan's Musings]

This has been a wonderful example for me that sometimes we don't get something because we forget to ask! I asked for comments and they are pouring in. I truly appreciate every time that one of you takes the time to let me know how you felt about a Musing. I'm also glad we have so many 'Ancient Jewish Wisdom' TV show viewers. (If you don't watch TV or don't get TCT, we have a DVD of four of our favorite shows in our store (https://www.rabbidaniellapin.com/product.php?id=29.)
It gives me hope for America to read these comments, though as always, disagreeing views are always welcome.
Susan

[Exousia]

Hello. I followed along with everything until I came to the part where prominent African American figures where viewed as "race hustlers." Up to that point, I fell "off the bandwagon" so to speak. Attempting to step back and see it from another's point of view, it was quite difficult and the observation was extremely offensive; nevertheless, he is entitled to his point of view. I am not going to make this about a race issue because I wholeheartedly believe his main point was about using firearms as a means of protection, not race relations. Truthfully Susan, my feelings got the best of me and I failed to respond.

[Rochelle]

Hi Susan
Honestly last week was a very busy week for me and since I am self employed that is a good thing. It was just a bit long and I did not really find time to read it all the way through until today. Having read it, it is so emotionally charged, I felt like I was right there with them and was not sure at first what to make of it. As an African American woman, who identifies more with my Christianity and my American citizenship than my race, this disturbed me but not as one might expect. I am disturbed that well meaning people find themselves almost defenseless against the very people they are trying to help. I am disgusted at the overwhelmingly bad and barbaric behavior I have seen myself among some members of my own race. This has only increased under our current president. As a concealed weapons permit holder and gun owner, I am outraged over the the politician's attempts to punish law abiding citizens such as myself for what the thugs (who do not obey gun laws) have done. They are taking advantage of other people's tragedies and preying on people's fears and strong emotions to push their long held agenda's through at the expense of the innocent.

[ANB1209]

I felt the tone of the story was a bit too light-hearted. I realize that in a situation like that humor can be used to keep calm, so ultimately I liked the story.

In regards to gun control, I think Americans need to shift our focus to taking guns more seriously. Gun ownership is a huge responsibility. It is for the good of our country to responsibly own guns. Some of us are not able or willing to rise to the responsibility. I guess the big question of gun control is at what point do we say we have enough control? Once we start down the path of more control, I think it can be difficult to turn back.

The gun problem is that most people do not teach their children about gun safety and the importance of being able to defend against an out of control government. Instead, society is teaching children that there is no reason that civilians should have guns. Each and every one of us can start by taking responsibility for the lessons we are teaching in our homes.

[John McFie]

Thank you for sharing Robert's story last week. I know our family appreciated it!

We don't comment very often, on blogs but really enjoy the food for thought which both you and your husband have to share each week.

[Peter B.]

Hello Susan:

I must say that I also admire and appreciate your passion as relates to the subject of we American’s 2nd Amendment right. I found Mr. Avrech’s retelling of his familiy’s L.A. riots ordeal very compelling.

One thing that struck me in reading the story was how the Avrech’s Offspring #2 “recites the Sh’ma and then promptly falls asleep”.

Children cannot defend themselves physically. All of God’s children can and should, however, place our trust in Him.

Robert Avrech’s ordeal taught him an invaluable lesson. As much as his children may believe that God will protect them, we adults who are responsible for the physical protection of our families must remain prepared to do so. Semper Fi – it’s not just for the U.S. Marine Corps anymore.

America’s Bill of Rights First Amendment safeguards our spiritual right to freedom of thought. Yes, it does say “speech”, and “the press”, and “of assembly” (like what we’re doing right now) but these are but the manifestation of our spiritual thoughts. Any idea, once banned from the free marketplace, the will soon become scarce.

The ideas articulated in reciting great Sh’ma are so powerful. The wisdom of our nation’s founders, however, dictated to them that “talk is cheap”. That’s why they saw fit to reinforce Amendment One with Amendment Two. Neither One nor Two can long survive alone. They are totally and irrevocably dependent upon one another.

Your husband recently pointed out that there is only one thing in all of God’s creation that is capable of evil, and that one thing is NOT an inanimate object. This rules out either a gun or a 13+ round magazine as being capable of evil. It is a human being and only a human being that is capable of evil. As Shakespeare said, “Therein lies the rub”. Too many folks today are so confused about spirituality and good vs. evil, asking them to make head or tails of gun control makes them feel like a termite in a yo-yo.

“The mortar of materialism demands the exclusion and ultimate elimination of the spiritual.”
— Rabbi Daniel Lapin (explained in his Tower of Power 2-CD set)

Confronting the reality that people are capable of evil is unsettling for those who haven’t been taught how the world REALLY works. This is at the root of the gun control advocate’s misguided opinion. Folks in denial of the evil potential that deep down they recognize lies within their own heart feel compelled to project their terror onto inanimate objects – like guns and ammunition. Of course, the leaders of the gun-control movement know much better. They know full well that it is less about guns, and more about control.

Robert Avruch’s story with its references to Nazi-era events like the Warsaw Uprising serves to put each of us on notice. Thank you so very much for posting the story. Shalom and God’s richest blessings to you and to all who choose to read and or participate in this forum.

[Larry Carignan]

Susan, Thanks for your very thought provoking musings each week. I esp. liked your guess writer Robert's article "Jew without a gun". It was not too hard to see myself in a similar situation. I believe our sense of safety and security is just a thin veneer and more of an allusion than not. We each have a God given right and responsibility to protect our families and our homes. We are our own first responders. The role of the police is primarily as a deterrent and someone who arrive on the scene long after the crime is committed. Thanks, Larry