Wade Michael Page, and the Sikh Temple Shooting, Are Not Just About Gun Laws

Earlier this week, while tending to an unrelated issue, President Barack Obama took a moment to address the Sikh temple shooting that left six people dead -- including the gunman -- and three critically wounded. 

President Obama said how terrible events like this are, “happening with too much regularity for us not to do some soul searching to examine additional ways that we can reduce violence.” Some people may believe that gun laws need to be harsher so that things like this won’t happen, but it’s not all about the laws. Forgive me if I sound corny, but guns don’t kill people, people kill people. If the gun law lasso needs to be tightened here and there, then so be it, but don’t blame it all on the gun laws. Mentally stable and spiritually strong people don’t commit massacres.

Wade Michael Page, the infamous shooter of the Sikh temple tragedy, was a 40-year-old U.S. Army Veteran and a member of racist skinhead bands called End Apathy and Definite Hate. Those who are part of the white power movement claim to have strong roots in the Christian faith, but these people are typically extremely violent. As Robert Futrell, co-author of American Swastika: Inside the White Power Movement’s Hidden Spaces of Hate said, “Violence is part of this culture.” The white power movement and white power music openly preach violence against minorities.

For those who don’t know, the Sikh faith is the fifth largest religion in the world, with more than 30 million followers. Those of the Sikh religion believe in one God and follow the teachings of ten Holy Gurus. They believe that the goal of life is to lead an exemplary existence. I may not be an expert on religion, or even a member of the Sikh religion, but I do know that I have yet to hear of any religion that believes in violence. Even Muslims have made it perfectly clear that even though Muslim extremists took part in 9/11 and other horrible acts, the Muslim community as a whole doesn’t believe in such violence. I know I’m not the world’s holiest person, but I know what I know and I know whom I know. I believe with all my heart and soul that God is my Father and the Creator of all things. Having different beliefs are quite all right, but hurting others is way past not cool.

It seems as if every time something unthinkable happens people start praying more and want to question where God is. We finally get a Commander in Chief who is encouraging that some serious soul searching be done amongst ourselves to help reduce violence and the only reply some can give is “so what about gun laws?” We have so much evil and hatred in this world because there are so many who aren’t trying to lead a life that’s worth a crap. I’m now saying you have to be and act holier than thou, but when you have some type of positivity in your life you’re not going to use people for target practice. I John 3:1 says, “See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know Him.” I’m not saying that you have to believe in my God, but people who have some type of spiritual strength don’t mow down other human beings.