It seems that every day there’s another shooting, with innocent people shot or killed. A man in Texas was firing his assault rifle in his yard at night. Neighbors asked him to stop the noise, so their baby could sleep. Apparently, he took offense at their request. He proceeded to go next door with his gun and kill five of them in their home, including a nine-year-old boy.

What’s going on? Why is America one of the most violent countries on earth? Several factors. First, the easy availability of guns. Second, the notion that people are free (and need) to defend themselves. Third, a shocking disregard for the value of human life.

What does the Bible have to say about it? A lot. There is no mention of guns in the Bible because guns had not been invented yet. But there is much in the Bible about the use of weapons.

Swords were like the guns of the first century—they were ubiquitous. On the night Jesus was betrayed, John wrote, “So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons” (John 18:3). Jesus said, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit?” (Matthew 26:55b).

Even the disciples felt it was right to defend themselves (and Jesus). One of the disciples (whom John identified as Simon Peter), pulled out his sword and struck one of those who had come to seize Jesus, cutting off the ear of the slave of the high priest. According to Matthew 26:52, Jesus said to his disciple, “Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.”

Not many people carry swords anymore, but according to surveys, there are more guns in our country than people. Some years ago in a sermon, I noted the connection between handguns and murders and suicides. Two members of our church didn’t like it. After the service, they met me near the sound booth at the back of the sanctuary and voiced their objections. One of them was in law enforcement and the other was in the military. One of them said that if I spoke about guns again, he was leaving the church. I tell about this incident in Chapter 6 of my book Preaching for the Long Haul: A Case Study on Long-term Pastoral Ministry.

In Chapter 9 of my book, Spelunking Scripture: The Letters of Paul, I note that more people in America are killed by guns than die in traffic accidents. In 2020, more than 44,000 Americans were killed by firearms. There were some 20,000 homicides and 24,000 who died by suicide with a gun (according an article in The Washington Post, March 23, 2021).

More guns are not making us safer. Of course, guns are necessary for those in law enforcement and the military. But guns in the wrong hands are deadly. What can be done?