The NRA is today's Moloch — an ancient Canaanite god who required regular child sacrifices by fire to appease his rage against all humans. Even though the Israelites were commanded to worship One God, they often lapsed into pagan rituals, including the odious practices to pacify Moloch. Jewish participation in these rites ended in the 7th century B.C. when the ultimate Biblical Law, Deuteronomy, was written and sealed.
These devilish sacrifices were performed in Gai Ben Hinnom, a valley surrounding Jerusalem. The fires and stench made Jerusalemites coin the word GEHINNOM, GEHENNA — a synonym for hell you can find in John Milton.
If the massacre in Newtown, Conn. is not Gehenna — kindly explain the difference!
Not being American-born I can't fathom my adopted country's attachment to firearms. Truly, I cannot understand why Americans love their guns more than they love their children. But I accept it, knowing this reality is justified by the Second Amendment in which the Founding Fathers legislated to provide "a well regulated militia" and "the right of the people to keep and bear arms." Alas, 200 later, Americans cling to the precise wording of the amendment.
In 1776, the historian David McCullough proves the Revolutionary War was fought and won by local — and badly-armed — militias. The framers of the Constitution never envisioned the provisions they had enacted as "...necessary for the security of a free State..." would result in Columbine, Aurora, or Sandy Hook.
Otherwise, they would have mandated change. For example: the Bible decreed "an eye for an eyes; a tooth for a tooth ...", the result of which was a bunch of blind and toothless Israelites roaming the land. So Talmudic sages amended the law saying: An eye for an eye means monetary compensations. We call this progress.
Unfortunately even the celebrated Justice Antonin Scalia was less modern then the ancient Talmudists. In 2008, in DC vs. Heller, Scalia authored a judgement to the effect that every individual is "a well regulated militia," and can therefore bear arms. Now, look at your eccentric Uncle Joe, or your socially-challenged nephew Jim, and tell me if they qualify as a "well regulated militia?"
I understand a few things about firearms. I'm from Israel, founded with Chech rifles and defended by home-grown Uzis. Almost everyone in Israel served in the military and knows how to shoot. Yet no one I know is enamored of guns.
In Israel guns are illegal. Growing up I have never seen guns in my parents', my relatives', or my friends' homes. Reservists called up to train with firearms, leave them with the Armourer before going home. Good riddance — and hope not to see you anytime soon!
Of course, you can buy any firearm in Israel on the black market. On Dec. 23, Israel's daily Ha'aretz published the prices you'd have to pay: M16 — $15,000; AK-47 $8,000; Glock pistol — $4,000. I doubt if a deranged 20-year-old can come up with these sums.
n Washington every politician — including President Obama — is so frightened of the NRA, they preface each plea for gun-control with the disclaimer that they are staunch supporters of the Second Amendment. But please, please, they beg, do something about assault rifles!
The NRA is a huge business bringing in mega-bucks. It resents losing the sale of a single clip — let alone thousands of rifles. Wayne LaPierre, the group's CEO, declared the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. Sorry, folks, the man's behavior defies any adjective in the realm of normalcy.
Further, Mr LaPierre contends, that armed guards in school is not enough — he wants teachers to be armed. Years ago I taught English Literature in high school. Byron, Shelley and Keats — those heroes of Romantic poetry.
Now, suppose the Byron camp started a violent fight with the Shelley camp — would you expect me to reach for the Glock in my desk drawer?
Email Rachel Patron at rachel_patron@yahoo.com.
