“The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” These words are found in the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution, and find their justification in the God given right to life and freedom as acknowledged in the Declaration of Independence. The right to life is a right held by each individual created by God and with that right comes the ability (and the duty) to protect life.
The scriptures are clear on the duty and right to defend ourselves and others. Psalm 82:4 says, “rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” The scriptures are clear that one should always intervene to protect another from harm. In addition, the bible also makes it clear that God does grant us the right to protect ourselves from harm. Exodus 22:2 says, “if a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him.” We know from the New Testament that Jesus allowed his disciples to carry swords for self-defense and instructed them to buy swords at one point (Luke 22:36). The right to life is clearly biblical and the scriptures set self defense and defense of others as a moral right and Christian duty.
image by Thomas Tucker from Unsplash
It has become an accepted practice in America that state and local governments will issue permits granting the holder the ability to carry a firearm or weapon without facing legal trouble. Many states have implemented and continue to implement these permits in spite of the clear injustices and prejudices surrounding such regulations. God gave you the right to life, yet state governments are selecting at their own discretion who can protect their life and who cannot.
We recently celebrated Martin Luther King day as a nation, honoring the fallen American hero that paid the ultimate price for his efforts to protect the rights of all Americans, regardless of race. King applied for a permit after his house was bombed, yet the local government refused him his right to self defence and denied him a permit. That's right — it was the local government that denied Martin Luther King his right to life. And King is not a lone victim of the practice of may-issue carry permits. States continue to restrict permits from people who have the legal ability to own guns from carrying them. One should not be required to give up property or money to a government in exchange for a God given right. Carry permits demand an individual to bribe the government and to gain their consent to exercise a right that was given to them by God.
The origins of carry permits are often just as sickening as the concept of them altogether. They were often used to restrict minority groups and individuals state governments saw as inferior from protecting themselves. Many of these immoral laws still persist today. They defy the notion that all are created equal, and state that not everyone has a right to defend their life and the lives of others.
There is hope, though. Multiple states have once again recognized the basic right to life and have implemented constitutional carry. This number continues to grow as the people demand their rights to be recognised by their representatives. But governments across the U.S. still continue to restrict and usurp your rights for their own financial gain. This is wrong. Your rights come from God, not from any man or government. The governing authorities exist to ensure these rights are protected.
This right to self defense should extend to everyone, including college students. The state of Georgia recognised this when they passed legislation that allows students to carry nonlethal options for self defense on campuses. Granted, this law has no bearing on private universities, which often have little respect for students' God-given rights outside what is legally required. However, Covenant chooses to continue to treat nonlethal options for self defense as
contraband and threatens retaliation for any student who values their life over Covenant policies.
Page 14 in the Student Handbook quotes title 16-11-127.1 of the Georgia Code which defines a weapon. The quote includes a reference to Ga Code 16-11-106 which further defines stun guns and tasers and also declares them firearms if possessed during a crime. This very section is later referenced in paragraph 19 of Ga Code 16-11-127.1 as one of the statutes defining the nonlethal weapons granted exemptions for students. This exemption came in 2016 under House Bill 792 commonly referred to as Campus Carry Lite. While this law has existed for several years now, there has been no Covenant response or policy change.
It is interesting the state has a higher respect for student rights than a Christian college. In addition to this, the college restricts teachers and faculty members from possessing weapons for self defense even in a manner legally protected under Georgia and federal law. Covenant College has said in the student handbook, “simply said, Covenant College does not permit weapons on campus.”
To this I would like to point out Deutoronomy 22:8,“when you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, that you may not bring the guilt of blood upon your house, if anyone should fall from it.” God wants us to be concerned about the welfare of each other and to treat life as sacred. Is this what Covenant communicates in their strict no weapons policy, or are they creating a student body vulnerable to violent acts by removing the right of self defense?
Often Christians read the commandment “thou shalt not kill” as a blanket condemnation of violence and violent acts in general. They misunderstand the purpose of the commandment. The Isrealites had just witnessed God inflict plague after plague on the Egyptians and then slaughter the Egyptian army. The command was given while God was leading them to a war. Should the pacifist interpretation here prevail, God was telling them to do something that he had forbidden. The command not to kill was given to establish that human life is sacred to God as humanity is created in his image. It establishes the right to life, not the right to ignore the rest of scripture on one's interpretation of four words.
The best person to protect you is you. Not the police, not campus security, and definitely not the government. It is your right, it is your duty to defend yourself, your friends, and your family. I have seen multiple people violate covenant self defense policies and to these individuals, you have my respect. Your life is more important than any policy.
Covenant's student handbook says that, “all students are required to uphold local, state, and federal law except on the rare occasions when compliance with the civil authority may be in conflict with the Scriptures.” I would argue that all violations of one's right to life and the right to protect life certainly violates the scriptures. It therefore is a disappointment that the college does not recognise this. The right to life and freedom is sacred. With these rights comes the necessary right and duty to defend them; it's time we do just that.