Three Catholic Principles for the Gun Control Debate

Gun control is one of the most hotly debated issues in American politics today. On one extreme there are those who seem to think that guns can and should be completely legislated out of American life. On the other extreme are those who seem to think that our communities would be safer if everyone carried a concealed weapon.

Although there isn’t an official Catholic position in the debate, I’d like to outline three basic Catholic principles from Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) to contribute to the discussion.

1. Each individual has the right to protect himself and others.

The Fifth Commandment clearly states, “You shall not kill” (Exodus 20:13), which means that we can never intentionally take the life of another individual. Nonetheless, the Catholic faith recognizes that it is sometimes necessary to use force to defend yourself and others: “Someone who defends his life is not guilty of murder even if he is forced to deal his aggressor a lethal blow” (CCC 2264).

This is particularly true of one who has the responsibility to defend others. “Legitimate defense can be not only a right but a grave duty for one who is responsible for the lives of others. The defense of the common good requires that an unjust aggressor be rendered unable to cause harm” (CCC 2265).

This is an important part of the gun control debate: Because parents, for example, are responsible for the lives of their families, they logically have a right to own what they need to defend their families.

2. The government has the right and responsibility to regulate weapons.

Although individuals have a right to own what they need to defend themselves and those for whom they are responsible, the government does have a right to place reasonable restrictions on the manufacturing, trade, and ownership of weapons. The Catechism clearly states, “The production and the sale of arms affect the common good of nations and of the international community. Hence public authorities have the right and duty to regulate them” (CCC 2316). Scripture is clear that we must be subject to the government, which has the authority to "bear the sword" (Romans 13:4).

The Second Amendment protects the right of individuals to bear arms in the United States, but there are certain limitations to this right. For example, an individual obviously does not have a right to own biological weapons or nuclear devices. If a particular weapon is not necessary for the defense of oneself or one’s family, then the government has the “right and duty” to regulate its production and ownership. Deciding what individuals need to defend themselves and what they do not is an important part of the gun control debate. Determing what restrictions will actually keep the community safer - through statistical research rather than through partisan assumptions - is another important part of the discussion.

3. Jesus calls us to love our enemies.

An important idea that is often left out of the gun control debate is the radical love to which Jesus calls his disciples: “I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you”(Matthew 5:44). When Peter attempted to defend Jesus’ life, the Lord commanded, “Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52).

The Catechism quotes St. Thomas Aquinas to explain how a faithful Christian can still justify using force against another: “The act of self-defense can have a double effect: the preservation of one’s own life; and the killing of the aggressor.... The one is intended, the other is not” (CCC 2263). In other words, self-defense is not necessarily about hating an enemy, but about loving the ones you’re defending.

Nonetheless, Christians must carefully guard our hearts against any hatred of others or desire for vengeance (1 John 3:15; Romans 12:17-21), even if our lives are threatened. Eagerness to pull the trigger on anyone is simply inconsistent with the teaching of Scripture and the example of Jesus. We are guilty of a serious sin if we deliberately desire to seriously harm or kill any other person (CCC 2302-2303). Using violent force should be a last resort, and we are permitted to use only as much force as is necessary (CCC 2264). This is very challenging, but Scripture and Catholic teaching are absolutely clear on this point.

Conclusion

These basic principles still leave a great deal of room for debate about particular gun control policies, but they offer some Catholic boundaries for the discussion. When lives are at stake, as in this debate, it’s tempting to think that Christian morality no longer applies. If we truly want to live as disciples of Jesus, however, we must not abandon these key tenets of Catholic doctrine.