The Religion Of The Right To Bear Arms

[Haji 2003]

It's often argued that there would be less conflict in the world if there were no religions. My view is that even if you removed religions people would still have beliefs (albeit without some divinity) and these beliefs always have the power to cause death.

 

There's no better example of this, in my opinion, than the belief some Americans have in their right to bear arms. There's no divine inspiration for this, it's just grounded in history, culture and a system of values that places personal freedom over other values.

 

People who adhere to this belief can come up with ideas such as:

 

Reactions to mass shootings in the United States admit little variation. Gun control groups diagnose an epidemic, the president declares a crisis and gun advocates prescribe more guns.

 

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/19/nra-mass-shootings-south-carolina-church

 

which may strike the rest of us as utterly crazy.

[Shaikh Hakim]

Salam 

 

I agree on that. In addition, No one can claim that any conflict took place in the history of mankind was motivated by religion

 

It is obvious that many wars and conflicts (if not all of them) were due to the lack of moral values preached by religion

[Haji 2003]

The man who posted this subsequently killed his wife and himself

A fair few gun deaths are owners having accidents and committing suicide (55% of all gun related deaths)*.

She was about to divorce him.

https://usafacts.org/answers/how-many-people-die-from-gun-related-injuries-in-the-us-each-month/country/united-states/

[Guest Imām Zayd al-Shahīd]

On 6/20/2015 at 11:53 AM, Haji 2003 said:

It's often argued that there would be less conflict in the world if there were no religions. My view is that even if you removed religions people would still have beliefs (albeit without some divinity) and these beliefs always have the power to cause death.

 

There's no better example of this, in my opinion, than the belief some Americans have in their right to bear arms. There's no divine inspiration for this, it's just grounded in history, culture and a system of values that places personal freedom over other values.

 

People who adhere to this belief can come up with ideas such as:

 

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/19/nra-mass-shootings-south-carolina-church

 

which may strike the rest of us as utterly crazy.

Salam alaykum

 

In Yemen, every baligh male has his dagger (janbiya) - and although it seems ceremonial, fundamentally it is still a weapon

I think guns do make matters more complex. But countries without guns still have knife crime

I venture to think that because of the guns, the US gov probably fears its population more than any European country fears its own

It's true US armed forces can't be defeated by popular militia and US surveillance of its own population is second to none, but still, in the modern world, civil war is only possible in countries where more than one side owns guns

Hence why Syria descended into the bloody mire. Because it was flooded with arms and warriors at a time of popular uprising

The tyranny of the state and its monopoly over violence is something modern and when you add to it the unprecedented and unequalled access to data and surveillance, plus the control over the media, the oppressed in society really are doomed

In Palestine, areas where weapons could reach were more successful at resistance (Gaza more than West Bank, and West Bank more than pre-1948 occupied lands)

 

There's something to be said for the right to bear arms for the sake of freedom

 

[TheWayofTheSalaaf]

On 1/25/2025 at 3:27 PM, Guest Imām Zayd al-Shahīd said:

Salam alaykum

 

In Yemen, every baligh male has his dagger (janbiya) - and although it seems ceremonial, fundamentally it is still a weapon

I think guns do make matters more complex. But countries without guns still have knife crime

I venture to think that because of the guns, the US gov probably fears its population more than any European country fears its own

It's true US armed forces can't be defeated by popular militia and US surveillance of its own population is second to none, but still, in the modern world, civil war is only possible in countries where more than one side owns guns

Hence why Syria descended into the bloody mire. Because it was flooded with arms and warriors at a time of popular uprising

The tyranny of the state and its monopoly over violence is something modern and when you add to it the unprecedented and unequalled access to data and surveillance, plus the control over the media, the oppressed in society really are doomed

In Palestine, areas where weapons could reach were more successful at resistance (Gaza more than West Bank, and West Bank more than pre-1948 occupied lands)

 

There's something to be said for the right to bear arms for the sake of 

On 6/20/2015 at 3:53 AM, Haji 2003 said:

It's often argued that there would be less conflict in the world if there were no religions. My view is that even if you removed religions people would still have beliefs (albeit without some divinity) and these beliefs always have the power to cause death.

 

There's no better example of this, in my opinion, than the belief some Americans have in their right to bear arms. There's no divine inspiration for this, it's just grounded in history, culture and a system of values that places personal freedom over other values.

 

People who adhere to this belief can come up with ideas such as:

 

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/19/nra-mass-shootings-south-carolina-church

 

which may strike the rest of us as utterly crazy.

 

The right to bear arms is not a religion to americans its their strange nationalist cult where the constitution has become scripture to them. Some Americans literally believe the constitution is divinely inspired. While the right to bear arms is in the constitution I do believe it's basis is based on religion. I am in no way a gun fanatic but it's a tool like any other tool that has its place. I do believe it has a basis in both Christian and Islamic theology. 

[notme]

On 4/18/2025 at 5:19 AM, TheWayofTheSalaaf said:

I do believe it has a basis in both Christian and Islamic theology. 

No, Jesus was a pacifist in Christian teachings.

The right to bear arms in the United States is based on fear of English rule, and fear of the oppressed people (slaves and natives) fighting back. We had absolutely no gun regulation here under federal law until The Black Panther Party started arming poor black folks in the late 1960s.

I've never met anyone who believes the Constitution is divinely inspired.

[TheWayofTheSalaaf]

1 hour ago, notme said:

No, Jesus was a pacifist in Christian teachings.

The right to bear arms in the United States is based on fear of English rule, and fear of the oppressed people (slaves and natives) fighting back. We had absolutely no gun regulation here under federal law until The Black Panther Party started arming poor black folks in the late 1960s.

I've never met anyone who believes the Constitution is divinely inspired.

It was based on having the tools to protect your property and rights. Only the southern states had slaves not the entire united states though slaves being property I would imagine that have guns would be necessary to protect themselves and their right to protect themselves from being attacked by a slave rebellion. This idea that slavery is a form of oppression is a tennet of liberal western ways. I would be careful as slavery is allowed under islam and is an institution when done according to the shariah is permitted. You will get no arguement from me that the usa should have restricted guns because of the black panther party. The 1960s were a watershed moment in which demographics were changed because of immigration that has largely erroded rights. Personally I don't think immigration is worth losing rights.

[Guest Tony]

On 4/19/2025 at 10:48 PM, notme said:

No, Jesus was a pacifist in Christian teachings.

The right to bear arms in the United States is based on fear of English rule, and fear of the oppressed people (slaves and natives) fighting back. We had absolutely no gun regulation here under federal law until The Black Panther Party started arming poor black folks in the late 1960s.

I've never met anyone who believes the Constitution is divinely inspired.

I agree with all these statements, except for possibly the oppressed label to natives. though that is simply my political stances.