Proliferation of Weapons?

There is a perception that the proliferation of weapons – guns, knives, hammers, ice-picks, etc. has brought about a massive wave of crime-related deaths. I am sure that is not the case. Here is a quote from one of the many news stories one can read everyday –

New York City police pressed forward Sunday in investigating the deaths of four children and a 37-year-old woman who were stabbed at a Brooklyn residence, saying a person of interest had been taken into custody. (Associated Press)

I am convinced the reality is not more weapons, or other instruments of death, but rather, corrupted minds. We would like to think that every incident is unrelated to every other incident. Is it? I doubt it. Whether one is talking about “lies” or “murder” or “car wrecks,” there is a common denominator. People. It is more clear every day that the highest of leaders in our beloved Nation lie constantly. Not even their most ardent supporters will attempt to deny that. It appears (I don’t know the actual truth) that most of the TV fare these days is about crime, murder, mayhem, (not to mention lies) and there are even “shows” that help one understand how the authorities solve crimes – thereby making one think that if they can just avoid making the mistakes that cause others to get caught – perhaps they can succeed. Movies and TV car chases mixed with Nascar, motorcycle racing and the perception that “bikes are faster than police cars,” and other “racing” programming make every kid think they too can drive or ride with abandon.

I suppose what I am trying to say is that guns and knives and hammers and ice-picks and cars and motorcycles and racing are not the problem. People are the problem. (I understand well that I am not the first to say that.) And, I certainly don’t want to imply that people who are safe drivers/riders, who own no guns or knives, or people who have abandoned lying, are never the subject of such news stories. But, we must realize that our society has changed so dramatically in the last 50-100 years (I’m not talking about innovation and advancement in knowledge, products, and capabilities) that it is not surprising. We have moved farther and more quickly from our Christian heritage in the last century than in the 1900 years prior. We are what we are and it is our fault. We choose to live as we do, and it is our choice. We have separated ourselves from God’s design and created our own. The Biblical admonition has never been more true – “whatever a man sows, that is what he will reap.”
We have sown the wind, and we are reaping the whirlwind.

Don’t hear me speaking as a pessimist. I believe there is a single answer. Don’t misunderstand – there will always be the tragedy of manifest sin – but we can slow the pace. . .if only. . .