Moral Relativism and the Great Gun-Control Debate

Never let a problem to be solved become 
more important than a person to be loved.
-Thomas S. Monson

A good friend recently asked me what my feelings are on the gun debate. Rather than simply reposting articles or sharing content from others on Facebook, I took this kind invitation to articulate my own thoughts. A healthy exercise I highly recommend.

Moral Relativism

I sincerely believe there is a real need to strike a public discussion regarding the how to counter the world suffering from “the love of men [waxing] cold.” I believe this to be the root cause of most of our current civil challenges today. The concept that we, as a global people, are having our hearts grow colder and losing the value of life, love and unity. I submit that this is due to the growing acceptance of Moral Relativism. I submit this be considered one fo the greatest diseases of our time.

From the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy the definition of Moral Relativism is stated as “…the truth or justification of moral judgments is not absolute, but relative to the moral standard of some person or group of persons. Sometimes ‘moral relativism’ is connected with a normative position about how we ought to think about or act towards those with whom we morally disagree, most commonly that we should tolerate them.

Is violence bad – Yes! Do lives matter? Yes!! Human life is sacred and most important. This statement encompasses all races, nationality, orientation, and those that are yet unborn. This is an eternal truth. Life in its grand journey IS of great value.

Gun Violence Is High

In regards to gun violence. Is it high? Yes.

With that said I want to amend that statement to a more practical and relevant one – Is violence high? (Gun or knife violence, domestic abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, etc.) YES! This is the question that should be fueling the public debate. I feel that the gun debate is but a distraction for politicians to jockey for electoral votes.

 I do appreciate any gun legislation dialogue that calls for deeper discussion on human safety and not just the flash bang topic of the gun control debate. I feel that gun violence is but a symptom of this great issue. But hey it IS an election year.

Treating Symptoms Doesn’t Cut It.

I feel any movement/legislation by government officials to ban/control or restrict guns will not lessen human to human violence.  Please reference Australia’s suicide and robbery and violent crime numbers post gun-ban.  I believe guns are only some of the tools or implements of this greater issue. Looking to gun legislation to fix the illness is like a doctor treating symptoms rather than looking for the underlying problem. Dr. Mark Hyman, Director of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine and founder and medical director of The UltraWellness Center, once wrote, “It’s like taking the batteries out of a smoke detector instead of trying to find the fire.”

Case studies of Baltimore and Chicago area where strict guns laws failed to stem violent crime rates.  Those crime rates stayed relatively level over time. I do agree that those affected areas include demographic groups that currently struggle with a system that hampers their ability to help themselves. (healthcare, public assistance, racial divide – you name it.) The system doesn’t provide enough disincentives to violent crime – which usually incorporates guns. Again – greater issue at the root than just the guns. So let’s have that be the discussion.

Personal Accountability and Responsibility

I feel there is an absolute need to ensure prudence and responsibility in gun ownership. I feel current talks on gun legislation are headed in a way that would squelch the 2nd amendment and be a detriment to both civic and private gun use. Please note that I am not one who is disillusioned by any sense of visions of glory or heroism in conceal to carry permit practices. I fully understand the legal and eternal implications of any actions taken with a gun (pistol or rifle) if I choose to do so. I feel that training is essential but if individuals do not pursue training – personal limitations should be understood and practiced by that individual practitioner.

The Infamous 2nd Amendment

To those that feel the 2nd amendment only relates to the formation and regulations of militias. In 2007 the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit found that in spite of the first part of the 2nd Amendment — that which refers to the militia — "the Second Amendment's premise is that guns would be kept by citizens for self-protection (and hunting)." The court acknowledged the history the militia played in the creation of the 2nd Amendment, but that militias were not the only measure to be viewed when looking at the 2nd amendment on gun ownership and reasonable use. (Parker v District of Columbia; see also District of Columbia v Heller, McDonald v Chicago)

My Personal Closing Statement

Yes, I believe more be done to revamp gun legislation without taking the right to bear arms from responsible citizens – I think there is definitely room to refine existing practices. I also feel that we can focus more on civic unity and coming together as a people. We need to take our energy and efforts to bring the fight where it should be most effective. We must understand and fight against what I understand to be a subtle enemy of goodness and unity, MORAL RELATIVISM. There is a right and wrong and it does matter.

So let’s keep this discussion going for the sake of human lives everywhere.

In the end this is just a rant without many answers or suggestions. I don’t have the answers but as a collective and unified group of human beings, I know it can be achieved. We were created to succeed.

The Dalai Lama teaches that happiness and fear have
something very much in common. They are both the result
 of internal influences rather than external circumstances.

Here are principles of success that have been taught throughout the ages that we may look to in this discussion:

• Personal accountability
• Hard work
• Respect
• Kindness
• Service to others
• The Importance of the family unit
•  Faith as a principle of action
•  Self-reliance
•  Forgiveness

A good friend once wrote that he wasn’t so concerned about greater calamities or disasters but that he was focused on how he would be found in those situations. Would he be helpful to others, a builder of society/community, will he be a calm within the storm? This is the way I, too, wish to live - in both my personal or professional life.