God and Guns in America Quotes

“An uncritical embrace of American gun culture is inconsistent with beliefs about the sanctity of life. We must be careful that we are not eager to kill, nor to take killing another human being--any other human being--too lightly. All human beings, no matter how good or bad, have equal inherent value because they are made in the image of God.”
― Michael W. Austin, God and Guns in America

“Christian nationalism includes several core beliefs, such as (1) the Bible should be the only foundation for all of American life; (2) the United States must be returned to its status as a Christian nation; (3) conservative Christians are superior and have a right to rule over America; and (4) Christians must keep our nation from its continuing slide into the corruption wrought by secular humanism.”
― Michael W. Austin, God and Guns in America

“The best arguments for more restrictive gun laws recognize that no law is foolproof. These arguments emphasize, however, that such laws can reduce the likelihood that some criminals will have access to guns, in turn reducing the overall level of gun violence. This is the heart of the issue--given that we cannot eliminate all gun violence, what can be done to reduce it? What can be done to make it more difficult for criminals to gain access to firearms?”
― Michael W. Austin, God and Guns in America

“Guns are not a sign of freedom or security. They are often a sign of fear and insecurity...Democracy flourishes when there are open dialogue and debate, and the freedom to engage in peaceful protest without being intimidated by the threat of force. Guns are in many ways incompatible with two rights that are essential to a healthy democracy: the right to free speech and the right to assembly.”
― Michael W. Austin, God and Guns in America

“Guns are idols when gun rights are sacrosanct and nonnegotiable, and discussion about limits being placed upon them cannot be done in a calm and rational manner. If we need guns to make us believe that we are in control, to protect us from harm, to make us feel secure, then our guns have become idols.”
― Michael W. Austin, God and Guns in America