{"id":40026,"date":"2022-06-07T22:32:14","date_gmt":"2022-06-08T04:32:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/publiccatholic\/?p=40026"},"modified":"2022-06-07T23:55:58","modified_gmt":"2022-06-08T05:55:58","slug":"matthew-mcconaughey-addresses-gun-violence-his-full-speech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/publiccatholic\/2022\/06\/matthew-mcconaughey-addresses-gun-violence-his-full-speech\/","title":{"rendered":"Matthew McConaughey Addresses Gun Violence, Watch His Speech"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

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Matthew McConaughey at the Academy Awards. Source: Wikimedia Commons, public domain<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Matthew McConaughey\u00a0grew up in Uvalde Texas. He is a gun owner and supporter of the Second Amendment, just like me and a lot of other people.<\/p>\n

After the mass shooting at Robb Elementary, he went to Uvalde and spent what sounds like a lot of time with the families of the murdered children and teachers. He gave an impassioned speech today calling for what he named \u201cresponsible gun laws.\u201d<\/p>\n

His speech gave voice to things that many of us are thinking and feeling.<\/p>\n

I saw some angry commentary about what McConaughey said later in the day. Much of it came from Catholic writers and commentators that I know personally. They are big on talking about \u201cpro life\u201d and the \u201cunborn,\u201d They also are condemning toward people who are \u201cpro choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Somehow or other, they are blind to the terrible inconsistency in their attitudes. The right to life is the first right on which all other rights is based. Without a right to life, no other right matters. This right to life is the inherent and preeminent right of all people, everywhere. It does not end at birth.<\/p>\n

We have no choice in this my friends. We have to be willing to step up and defend innocent life. We cannot accept the wanton murder of innocent people. We are called as Christians to save lives. I agree with Matthew McConaughey\u2019s comments on this issue. He placed the emphasis where it belongs, which is on the victims and the need to take action to save lives.<\/p>\n

It saddens me that \u201cpro life\u201d people are attacking him for what he said. I hope they re-think what they are doing.<\/p>\n

You can watch McConaughey\u2019s full speech below.<\/p>\n