Recent mass shootings in El Paso, TX, and Dayton, OH, have renewed calls for stricter gun control laws. Among developed nations, the United States is one of the leaders in gun deaths per capita. However, restricting gun ownership has proven politically dicey. Gun rights advocates argue that gun control limits their ability to protect themselves. Instead, they argue that the solution is more guns in the hands of the public, as the slogan goes, “The only thing that can stop a bad man with a gun is a good man with a gun.” Gun control groups counter that a “bad man with a gun” can kill many people before the “good man” ever appears on the scene. Proof of this is a recent incident in Philadelphia, where a gunman shot and injured six highly armed police officers before surrendering.
In essence, both gun rights advocates and gun control advocates want the same thing. We all want to feel safe and secure in our homes, our streets, our schools, our synagogues. We all want to be able to protect our children and loved ones. We just have different ideas of how to get there. One side believes that safety lies in government regulation. The other side believes that the government is useless and we need to take our safety into our own hands.
What we all need to acknowledge is that violence is a societal problem. Even the biggest weapons won’t help us feel safe if we can’t trust our friends, our neighbors, our loved ones. Keeping powerful weapons out of civilian hands might be one step in reducing gun massacres, but what we really need is a spiritual revolution.
One of the blessings given to the Jewish people is, “You will dwell securely in your land… And I will grant peace in the land and you will lie down with no one to fear… and no sword will pass through your land.” When the Jewish people keep the Torah, G-d promises us that we will feel safe in our beds without any swords or weapons to protect us.
One way of ensuring the safety and security of every Jewish home, school, synagogue or business is through affixing a mezuzah to the door. This serves as a public symbol that we do not rely on our own power and might but on the power of G-d to protect us. Physical barriers, be they armed guards, police, or tightened gun laws, can help keep us safe from a shooter. But the spiritual protection we get through studying Torah and doing mitzvot can prevent shooters from arising in the first place. Through bolstering our spiritual defenses we hasten the day when Moshiach will be revealed and we will all dwell securely in our land. ■