Clinging to Our G-d and Guns

Clinging to Our G-d and Guns
Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
April 12, 2020

In the new world of coronavirus we find ourselves “living” in, while it is perfectly legal to procure food from a Church’s Chicken drive through, attempting to worship at one’s church is now considered a misdemeanor - even if outdoors in one’s vehicle. Something is most assuredly wrong with that picture.

Millions of people of faith and legal gun owners were mocked by Barack Obama for “cling[ing] to their guns and religion.” Thank G-d Obama is no longer occupying 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, because his antipathy toward both groups would prove even more damaging than it is today. Although President Donald Trump supports both groups, myriad governors and mayors continue Obama’s disdain for religion, religious people, guns and gun owners.

The list of non-essential businesses includes, but is not limited to, churches, synagogues, and gun stores. The list of essential businesses includes, but is not limited to, abortion clinics, liquor stores, and fast food establishments. So, at a time when Americans are at their most vulnerable, most defenseless, it is no wonder people are clinging to their guns and religion. Gun shops are deemed non-essential when they are at their most essential. The Second Amendment is the citizens’ protection against a tyrannical government. I don’t oppose medically necessary safety measures, but not when United States citizens are being thrown under the ambulance in favor of diabetic child molesters and sex offenders.

Shoplifting, break-ins of homes and businesses, and other so-called petty, low-level, non-violent quality of life crimes are being ignored, thanks to edicts by radical Democrat district attorneys like Larry Krasner of Philadelphia and Chesa Boudin in San Francisco. Prisons have even released convicted child molesters and sex offenders with diabetes who may be at risk of contracting the coronavirus for their protection, yet it seems perfectly acceptable to let these animals loose on decent society putting innocent Americans at risk. In fact, US Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), during an interview on MSNBC, advocated for blanket commutations of sentences to release prisoners due to the coronavirus. Where is the justice? 

If a supermarket can be open, as it should, so too should gun and ammunition shops be open allowing Americans to exercise their Second Amendment rights to the Constitution. The same social-distancing and shoppers per square foot can be observed just as easily in a gun store as it can in a grocery store. If people can wait in lines outside stores like a Costco or Wal Mart, they can just as easily do likewise at a Bass Pro Shops or Cabela’s.

Unilateral decisions like that made by Champaign, IL mayor Deborah Frank Feinen (D) to issue a ban on guns and the closing of gun stores via executive order are dangerous. Quite frankly, no more dangerous than the unilateral decisions made by numerous governors and mayors pertaining to the stifling of Americans’ freedom of religion. 

Greenville, MS Mayor Errick Simmons, a Democrat supporter of presumptive presidential nominee Joe Biden, unilaterally banned all religious services, including those of the drive-in variety. Police in that city were sent en masse to the King James Bible Baptist Church where Pastor Charles Hamilton attempted to conduct a vehicular service. “I’m a good citizen,” said Hamilton. “I ain’t breaking no law, I ain’t selling no drugs, I’m just preaching the word of G-d, and look at all the police cars here,” continued the pastor. “Our rights don’t come from authority,” added Hamilton, sort of reminiscent of the old Hebrew National hot dog commercials - “We answer to a higher authority.” Although the parishioners at King James were given a warning, at Temple Baptist Church, also in Greenville, worshipers were fined $500 per person, not per vehicle. Beyond outrageous.

In the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Democrat Governor Andy Beshear unilaterally called on the state’s police force to record the license plate numbers of all church-goers attempting to worship, from their vehicles. “Taking license plates at church? Quarantining someone for being Christian on Easter Sunday? Someone needs to take a step back here,” said Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), also a doctor.

“Churches might be empty this Easter, but so is the grave,” said Pastor Todd Lester of Forks of Elkhorn Baptist Church in Midway, KY. Lester was referring to his, and millions others’ belief, that Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday, following his crucifixion on Good Friday.

But such restrictions were not limited to just Democrats as Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, a Republican, issued his own edicts ruffling the feathers of religious communities across the Hoosier State. Holcomb called for houses of worship to be closed. He also required that in the case of drive-in services, there should be no interaction with clergy or any other personnel from houses of worship. Vehicles must be at least every other parking space, with no more than members of a given household in the vehicle - which rules out taking a neighbor, friend, or other family member who has no transportation. No portable bathroom facilities are to be provided on the grounds, and preferably no giving of communion. If restrooms are not closed or restricted in places like supermarkets, where undoubtedly more people shop than presumably the number of worshipers at individual churches or synagogues, why the restriction during drive-in services? And why can’t a service he held outdoors where parishioners are more than six feet away from one another?

These Draconian restrictions are also affecting the Jewish community, as Wednesday night at sundown ushered in Passover - a religious holiday of eight days runs parallel to Holy Week for Christians. Synagogues are unable to hold traditional services for daily prayers - minyan, Shabbat observances, and now Passover Seders. Traditionally individual congregations hold community Seders during the first two nights of Passover that typically serve those who don’t have family or a Seder to attend. In addition to the inability for Christians to receive communion or give confession, without a public service attended by the requisite 10 people above bar mitzvah age, the Jewish community is prohibited from reciting certain prayers during daily worship services. And while Zoom is a useful technological tool, that does not satisfy the all important rule of having 10 people physically present for the recitation of certain specific prayers according to Jewish law - also answering to a higher authority.

Governors and presidents sign bills to become law - they don’t write them; that is the responsibility of the legislative branch - elected directly by the people. For the legislative branch to cede power is more than just a little bit troubling, as our fundamental right of religious freedom, as found in the First Amendment of the Constitution, has been suspended. Where does it end? Totalitarian dictatorship the likes of which is found in communist Cuba, communist China, and socialist Venezuela? Be fearful, for this is the life a liberal-progressive atheist seeks to make America - another G-dless, faithless, socialist regime.

It is imperative to remember the words of Founding Father Benjamin Franklin (1706-90): “Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.