1.) We should remember Lk. 22:35-37 (which is not to incite rebellion, and thus must be oriented to self defense, or at least discouraging assault by going armed with an advance personal weapon of the day – a short sword).

2.) The histories of the papacy and the papal state do not support a pacifist doctrine (and thus the modern “culture of life”), whether in the Crusades (the first in aid to the East), or the War League of Cambrai, or a host of other involvements.

3.) Though the Vatican had a prison, the Papal States and the Pope himself issued orders for execution. Sometimes this was by way of general law (Pope Sixtus V’s crackdown on crime), and sometimes specific to individuals. Papal law even determined payment for the executioner. This went on at least from the 12th to the 19th century. [It definitely did not hold the modern broad "culture of life" position.]

4.) We ought not forget that the Pope has his own guard, and travels with a security team. In other words, unlike the average citizen, he can easily go unarmed because he is surrounded by men that are armed and committed to protect him. This is an incredibly shy approach to oft lauded martyrdom. [Pacifism is a cloak worn most comfortably by those being protected by others.]

This manifestation of evil that had plagued the country and world needs to be combated with the graces available in the Church and build the Culture of Life not on man’s laws, but on changing behavior of society through fasting, prayer, sacrifice, living by example and proclaiming the Gospel.

One of the next steps I ask you to ponder is joining with your brother bishops to recommend the Prayer to St. Michael after each and every Holy Mass.

Personal experience is one thing. Scientific studies another. And studies show gun laws have no demonstrable effect on gun violence.

That’s because, as others have noted, the problem isn’t guns fostering a Culture of Death. Its a Culture of Death fostering the abuse of guns. It would indeed be sad if, as noted above, there is vocal opposition to owning guns, while the radical expansion of the abortion license goes uncommented on.

Add to this the disintegration of the family – most notably the absence of fathers in many children’s lives. This is where we need to focus morally. Not on laws that won’t affect anything.

Perhaps you may devote less time to opining on gun control and concentrate on the recent remarks of Gov. Cuomo on late term abortions. The silence re his remarks and the behavior of too many of our catholic (small c) politicians is deafening.

The guns have always been there. The difference is the prevailing loss of respect for life that has crept into our society due in part by the legal killing of 55 million helpless babies. Additionally, when was the last time we heard Thou Shalt Not Kill from the pulpit or from the self-styled preachers who march against violence in the street.

Giving into any gun control suggested by this current administration is foolish. Rights given up can never be restored. We need swift accountability of gun violence offenders and less pablum from leadership.

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/video/#!/on-air/as-seen-on/Foreman-Heard-OC-Gunman–Chamber-Round-/192062921

I do believe as the Cardinal has stated that gun CONTROL, not a banning of all weapons is desperately needed in our country today. I myself, while working in a grocery store in the late 1990′s was held at gun point by a couple of small time crooks that took off from our store with less than 100 dollars. That was also, as my classmate Shane above, just outside Los Angeles. My sister as well, while working in a fast food restaurant, was also held at gun point in a drive thru and that guy got away too with very little money. So, I do have a perspective of this debate of someone who has been on the receiving end of a gun. I also served in the military, where I was trained to use an M-16. After 9-11, I served as an augmentee cop, taking me away from my assigned work as a photographer. Why is it, that some guns used in the military, such as M-16′s, need to be for sale on the streets of America? Why oozies? Why AK 47′s? These weapons, that are used and have been used by our trained military forces are on the streets of America. AK 47′s were used in Los Angeles during the LA riots of 1992, among other guns and weapons in which 58 people lost their lives. I am a supporter of gun control, not banning guns all together…but something has to give, and our fixation on violence is indeed cultivating a culture of death. Gun control is, I believe, from my personal experience, a step towards building a culture of Life!

All God’s blessings to you forever. Perhaps a better directed advacacy would be to call for the imprisonment of criminals who use guns in the commision of a crime. Agreeing with forces who harbor an agenda destructive to the Church is an equally dubious undertaking. The US is a beacon of hope to the world. American Liberalism in Washington is the leading threat to this ideal and the defeat of tenets coincidentally would solve virtually of positions the Church holds dear. The objectives of preserving the sanctity of life, the sacrament of marriage, and the dignity of the individual all are achieved by defeating Liberalism. You remain in my prayers. Best regards

You are completely incorrect about gun control. A strong Second Amendment protects the First. The lesson of the Cristeros War started by gun-controlling atheist President Plutarco Elias Calles in Mexico during the 1920s should be a stark reminder to the Church that when baby-murdering, sodomy-sanctifying demogogues like Obama have guns and we the sovereign citizens don’t, persecution of the Church always results. Furthermore, there is no dialogue to be held with evil Obama or the Democrats. The Maccabean brothers understood this when confronted with the paganism of the Seleucid rulers. But what is your response? Dialogue? Never!