Lt. Gov. Ramsey encourages 'fellow Christians' to get gun permits

[lostinblue 1,989]

Lt. Gov. Ramsey encourages 'fellow Christians' to get gun permits

NASHVILLE — Tennessee Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey is encouraging Christians to arm themselves following Thursday's mass shooting in Oregon in which the gunman reportedly singled out Christians.

But the Republican Senate speaker's call drew criticism from Tennessee Democratic Party Chairwoman Mary Mancini, who charged him with "fearmongering" and "apocalyptic delusions."

In a Facebook post Friday, Ramsey referred to a "recent spike in mass shootings across the nation" as "truly troubling."

"Whether the perpetrators are motivated by aggressive secularism, jihadist extremism or racial supremacy, their targets remain the same: Christians and defenders of the West," he wrote.

"While this is not the time for widespread panic," Ramsey added, "it is a time to prepare. I would encourage my fellow Christians who are serious about their faith to think about getting a handgun carry permit. I have always believed that it is better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have it.

"Our enemies are armed," he added. "We must do likewise."

The post included a link to a Tennessee government website describing the steps necessary to obtain a state-issued handgun permit.

According to news accounts, Chris Harper-Mercer opened fire on fellow students at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Ore., killing nine students and wounding others before dying himself.

CNN reported the father of a wounded student saying his daughter told him Mercer singled out Christians. While reloading his handgun, the gunman ordered the students to stand up and asked if they were Christians, Anastasia Boylan told her family, CNN reported.

"And they would stand up and he said, 'Good, because you're a Christian, you're going to see God in just about one second,'" Stacy Boylan said his daughter told him.

The Los Angeles Times reported a federal law enforcement source said authorities obtained some of Harper-Mercer's writings, as well as a note he left behind, suggesting he supported white-supremacist causes and opposed organized religion.

Responding to Ramsey's Facebook post, Mancini said in an email that "rather than address the fear mongering apocalyptic delusions of the Lt. Gov, I'd like to appeal to Tennesseans who are using their guns properly and safely — please think about whether your views are actually represented by politicians like Ron Ramsey. If not, it's time to do something about it."

But Ramsey found support from a colleague, Sen. Frank Niceley, R-Strawberry Plains, who praised his comments in a Twitter post.

"#Amen Every Law abiding citizen should consider being trained to provide for their self-defense #OunceOfPrevention," his post said. It triggered several hours of fierce Twitter exchanges between critics and supporters.

Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, said in a statement that Ramsey's comments "reek of fear mongering and religious crusading."

Rather than leading bipartisan efforts to keep guns away from criminals and the mentally ill, Clemmons said, "Senator Ramsey unfortunately chose the road most traveled by the radical right."

"There is an eerie absence of logic in his statement that ties one's Christian faith to firearms ownership that is so offensive to all religions," Clemmons went on. "Senator Ramsey is essentially saying that we should all run out and get a handgun carry permit to prove how serious we are about our Christian faith.

"Things have never ended well when any leader has asked people to take up arms in the name of their religious faith."

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/politics/state/story/2015/oct/03/gop-lt-gov-ramseys-encouragement-fellow-chris/328511/

The left has a melt down ....

Clemmons went on. "Senator Ramsey is essentially saying that we should all run out and get a handgun carry permit to prove how serious we are about our Christian faith.

"Things have never ended well when any leader has asked people to take up arms in the name of their religious faith."

Umm...No..

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Stupid.

[Dakine10 5,452]

Lt. Gov. Ramsey encourages 'fellow Christians' to get gun permits

It's what Jesus would have done.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

A Good Christian who never heard 'Turn the other cheek.' "Though shalt not kill." Murkha!

Edited October 4, 2015 by ready4ONE

[lostinblue 1,989]

[Dakine10 5,452]

[Expat1 971]

You know blue, that whole "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" thing is just one more way of saying "Things have never ended well when any leader has asked people to take up arms in the name of their religious faith."

You might need to remember that before you attribute that to "the left" or whatever you mean down there. I don't believe I'm going to give you a pass here and let an "ummm no" dismiss what our founders took the time to pen down

The left has a melt down ....

Clemmons went on. "Senator Ramsey is essentially saying that we should all run out and get a handgun carry permit to prove how serious we are about our Christian faith.

"Things have never ended well when any leader has asked people to take up arms in the name of their religious faith."

Umm...No..

[lostinblue 1,989]

You know blue, that whole "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" thing is just one more way of saying "Things have never ended well when any leader has asked people to take up arms in the name of their religious faith."

You might need to remember that before you attribute that to "the left" or whatever you mean down there. I don't believe I'm going to give you a pass here and let an "ummm no" dismiss what our founders took the time to pen down

Things have never ended well when any leader has asked people to take up arms in the name of their religious faith."

It is being used in a manner that a 2nd crusades is in order .... so to speak. What was meant by the Lt Gov. Ramsey is that in light of the attacks on Christians they should arm themselves to protect themselves .against more attacks.

[decocker 7,198]

what is brave about it? i don't get it. explain.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

2nd Crusades? Lost your responsive post is a mess. What are you talking about? I'm honestly trying to understand your position but the sentence structure defies logical interpretation.

From where I sit it appears that a Racist gunning down Black Christians was just a good starting point for discussing the Black rape issue. I'm sure that it was not.

I'm guessing that you think this mass murder in Oregon is somehow a direct continuation of the alleged War on Christianity. Historically we are well past the 2nd Crusade and I am quite sure if anything the attack is just one more example of a nut with a gun trying to make others recognize his existence.

[Expat1 971]

Things have never ended well when any leader has asked people to take up arms in the name of their religious faith."

It is being used in a manner that a 2nd crusades is in order .... so to speak. What was meant by the Lt Gov. Ramsey is that in light of the attacks on Christians they should arm themselves to protect themselves .against more attacks.

Which, in the light of what those same founders said in the next amendment, is their right to do.

Doesn't make the first statement wrong. America was in a large part founded by people fleeing religious persecution.

[lostinblue 1,989]

2nd Crusades? Lost your responsive post is a mess. What are you talking about? I'm honestly trying to understand your position but the sentence structure defies logical interpretation.

From where I sit it appears that a Racist gunning down Black Christians was just a good starting point for discussing the Black rape issue. I'm sure that it was not.

I'm guessing that you think this mass murder in Oregon is somehow a direct continuation of the alleged War on Christianity. Historically we are well past the 2nd Crusade and I am quite sure if anything the attack is just one more example of a nut with a gun trying to make others recognize his existence.

When the son of her friend pleaded with the shooter to stop, Johnson said the gunman replied: "'No, you've raped our women, and you are taking over the country ... I have to do what I have to do.' And he shot the young man."

Shooting suspect in custody after Charleston church massacre

http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/18/us/charleston-south-carolina-shooting/

Rape ...That reason was swept under the rug real quick .. buried in a sea of the confederate flag has to go .. dead bodies have to be exhumed ... The black lies movement could not have that out there on the talk shows .. White women getting raped. ......

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Things have never ended well when any leader has asked people to take up arms in the name of their religious faith."

It is being used in a manner that a 2nd crusades is in order .... so to speak. What was meant by the Lt Gov. Ramsey is that in light of the attacks on Christians they should arm themselves to protect themselves .against more attacks.

Personally, I think it's rather irresponsible for someone in high political office to be telling people to get guns in the wake of a shooting rampage. To be doing it through the suggestion that there's some sort of religious war going on - is scaremongering.

If you're going to get a gun, you perhaps shouldn't get one because of Chris Harper Mercer... Find a better reason.

[decocker 7,198]

When the son of her friend pleaded with the shooter to stop, Johnson said the gunman replied: "'No, you've raped our women, and you are taking over the country ... I have to do what I have to do.' And he shot the young man."

Shooting suspect in custody after Charleston church massacre

http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/18/us/charleston-south-carolina-shooting/

Rape ...That reason was swept under the rug real quick .. buried in a sea of the confederate flag has to go .. dead bodies have to be exhumed ... The black lies movement could not have that out there on the talk shows .. White women getting raped. ......

you never explain yourself to me, but i'm hoping you'll let me know what white rape victims have to do with perceived christian persecution. ####### did i miss.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

"The black movement" - there's just too much solid gold material on VJ these days.