Satanism and Gun Ownership and Control

Gun control is a question which taxes us to some degree. As a family our sentiments are generally against there being more and more guns in society but as Satanists we accept that ultimately we are all responsible for our own lives and our own security and therefore we can’t be totally against gun ownership. Indeed we have come round to the conclusion that in some societies, owning a gun is the wisest and most responsible thing to do. I think I have always had this view to some degree but Cassie has taken longer to come round to this way of thinking.

And yet every time there is another mass shooting we are reminded just how dangerous and crazy the widespread ownership of guns can be. Every such occasion is a tragedy and a pretty sad commentary on various aspects of society. Such things do happen in Europe and all over the world but they seem to happen much more frequently in The USA. Not just mass shootings, but murder by shooting is statistically much higher in America than in most other Western countries. But America is in denial (or at least the NRA and it’s supporters are). We think that America should admit to having a problem with gun ownership rather than trying to pretend things are not how they are. We think that America should seriously look at ways to deal with and reduce the number of deaths caused by guns. But we accept that gun ownership is part of American culture and that by this stage there are simply too many guns in circulation to make any form of reduction possible or meaningful. It would be nice if America didn’t have this almost religious fascination with guns and if American society was not so heavily addicted to weapons; but things are how they are, and the Satanic view must start from reality. Our conclusion therefore is that Satanists and all Americans who take seriously the concept of taking responsibility for their own lives, should be prepared to arm themselves when necessary. We would do so.

In different parts of the world the culture and history is different. In the United Kingdom, where Cassie is from, there are very few guns in circulation and fairly strict gun controls. Cassie thinks it would be stupid and unnecessary to relax the gun controls in Britain. Gun crime is rare there and in that culture it is still possible to reduce gun crime and gun ownership even further. Cassie thinks this would make serious gun crime and mass shootings in the UK even more rare. We would not need or want to own guns if we lived there.

Here in Switzerland the situation is a bit more complicated. Actually a lot of people have guns. When people do their compulsory military service they used to be allowed to keep the guns that were issued to them. It was seen as a continuing aspect of our country’s defence. I’m not sure if that is still the case and some Cantons are much stricter about gun control these days. But yes, there are quite a few guns in circulation and unlike in Britain the police here are usually armed as well. However we have a very low rate of gun crime. I think the reason is partly cultural and partly because the legal controls are quite strict and seem to be enforced successfully. Our conclusion is that really strict gun control makes the widespread public ownership of guns safer. That seems almost too clear and obvious to say and yet it does NEED saying. Most mass shootings and other gun crime are committed by people who are so mentally unstable that they should never have been let near a gun in the first place. We think that prohibition never works but that serious gun CONTROLS that are strictly MONITORED and ENFORCED are the way to have a safer future. Anybody who wants to be allowed to keep or carry a gun should understand that they will be required to have a full psychological evaluation at least once a year by fully trained and experienced psychologists who have the power to recommend confiscation of weapons and/or close monitoring by the police. We also think that the points of sale where guns are sold need to be much more strictly monitored and controlled. Safety is more important than profit and we think that any person who is caught having sold guns without doing all the proper checks should not only have their licence to sell guns permanently revoked, but they should also go to prison.

So to summarise, for us the most sensible way to avoid future shooting tragedies is through control not prohibition. And the Satanic stance must be that we have the right to defend ourselves by any means necessary.

A note from Cassie.

Having been brought up in Britain where gun crime is comparatively rare, and having seen on the news too many times the carnage unleashed by madmen with guns I have always taken the view that wide public ownership of guns is part of the problem and that all governments should legislate to reduce gun ownership as much as possible. I now concede that I was wrong and that both the problems caused by guns and the possible solutions vary greatly from culture to culture. Moreover I believe the essence of Satanism is about the individual being self empowered and not having to rely on others for protection. I think there are too many guns in circulation in America, but given that fact I think that responsible Americans should be able to carry guns for protection if they wish, and they should learn how to use them safely. It is simply too late to wish all the guns away. I like to practice what I preach so I have signed the three of us up to a sports shooting club and a course on safe gun handling. Perhaps in time I will apply for a licence to own one myself.

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