The FaithWalker's Daily -- Jan. 11: NRA Warns Of Attack, CA School Shooting Heroics, Lou Giglio Silenced

The FaithWalker’s Daily is a quick review of key news stories of the day from the perspective of a conservative Christ-follower living in, but not of, the world.

NRA Claims Biden Leading “Attack” on Second Amendment

The Basics —

After meeting with Vice President Biden Thursday, NRA leaders claimed the Administration’s efforts had little to do with keeping children safe and much about restricting Second Amendment rights.

Dig Deeper:

Via FoxNews: “We will not allow law-abiding gun owners to be blamed for the acts of criminals and madmen,” said the NRA in a written statement.
Via FoxNews, California considering radical new laws: “They know that as long as there is armed populace in the state, they will never control the people the way they want to,” contends Sam Paredes, executive director of Gun Owners of California.
Via Examiner.com: Selling guns privately could be made illegal.
Wyoming considers preemptive protective action.
NRA membership exploding. Ed Morrissey at Hot Air: “Surprised? I’m not, after the full-court press that has more closely resembled a witch hunt than a policy debate in the media.”

A Few Thoughts…

What we have here is Obamcare 2.0. Yet another attempt to strip Americans of their long-standing constitutional rights which some states are moving to protect as best they can. Perhaps the strategy is the same? Shove through action of some kind that is highly questionable and unconstitutional, muddy the waters with talk of being caring and concerned, and hope a Supreme Court justice rules your way when the inevitable case comes before it. After all, the next appointee by Obama will likely tip the balance of the Court dramatically left. What’s most telling about these efforts is that very little being suggested would have had any impact whatsoever on the tragedy in Newton — which is supposedly the reason they are concerned and need to take action immediately.

In order to be truly and happily free, you must be safe. ~ Santayana

California School Shooting Stopped by Heroic Teachers

The Basics —

A 16-year-old student in California who allegedly felt bullied, entered a school with a shotgun and and wounded a student before surrendering to teachers who confronted him.

Dig Deeper:

More on the story from Fox News. Officials had just finished reviewing safety protocols with students.
Heroic teachers got the kids out while distracting the shooter: “The heroics of these two people goes without saying. … They could have just as easily … tried to get out of the classroom and left students, and they didn’t,” the sheriff said. “They knew not to let him leave the classroom with that shotgun.”
5 Inconvenient truths about school shootings via Hot Air “The truth is that violent crime and mass shootings have declined since the 1990s, even with events like Newtown and Aurora. Schools are safer now than in decades. However, those data points don’t lend themselves to hysterics hopng to panic people into bad legislation that won’t solve the problems they supposedly address.”

A Few Thoughts…

I can’t help but wonder if the media spotlight on school shootings hasn’t given rise to more “copy-cat” efforts by frustrated kids. Clearly this young man wasn’t a lunatic as he responded to teachers’ rational appeals. It’s worth noting that the teacher’s took the best action available to them (getting students out of the area) based on the facts on the ground rather than cowering and waiting for help. It’s also very likely that the teacher, who had been there for two decades, had credibility and influence in that situation because of what he had invested there over the last two decades.

And in other news, hundreds of millions of children attended school today without incident.

Lou Giglio Withdraws from Inauguration for Calling Homosexuality Sin

The Basics —

Under fire from gay-rights organizations, Pastor Lou Giglio, Passion City Church in Atlanta, withdrew himself from leading the benediction at the Presidential Inauguration so as not cause a distraction after a sermon on homosexuality surfaced from 15 years ago.

Dig Deeper:

More from FoxNews: Key quote from Giglio — “Clearly, speaking on this issue has not been in the range of my priorities in the past 15 years. Instead, my aim has been to call people to ultimate significance as we make much of Jesus Christ.”
The Obama administration response? “We were not aware of Pastor Giglio’s past comments at the time of his selection and they don’t reflect our desire to celebrate the strength and diversity of our country at this Inaugural.”
Giglio’s original claim: “Underneath this issue [of homosexuality] is a very powerful and aggressive movement. That movement is not a benevolent movement.”
Giglio’s full statement here.
Todd Starnes at FoxNews says Giglio was pressured to get back in the closest.

A Few Thoughts…

The tables have been turned, apparently, as Christians are now the ones required to “don’t ask, don’t tell.” I understand Giglio’s unwillingness to get drawn into a discussion he didn’t ask for. But the gospel is bigger than just being nice to people. Speaking the truth in love doesn’t mean everyone will like what you have to say. Many in the Evangelical community seek to avoid conflict now at all costs because they think the gospel can better advance without it and as a reaction to the Moral Majority political efforts of the 80s and 90s. They may be right. But Giglio just reinforced the precedent that Christians who dare to speak the truth — from the pulpit no less — should not be permitted to speak or engage in the public square.