While I think it would be too soon to "ban guns in America" outright.. I firmly believe we need to ask ourselves is a gun in everyone's hand really the world we want to live in?

Guns need not be banned right away.. but I do believe our goal should be cultivating a world where we don't need guns. That's our goal. That is different from what is really taking place but that is our goal. Life and the preservation of Life is the most important thing. Our mission should be to preserve life.

There is an unrealistic feeling of "control" that a gun gives you. Basically blinding people to think that somehow they can be above the natural Godly chaos of the world. IF someone really wants to kill you, there's not much of a chance of you defending yourself. If you believe in a higher power there is no reason to be scared. If it the spirit within us all is collective than you really don't have anything to fear but fear itself.

As far as one post stating if we all had money and the basic essentials than there would be no reason for guns... I think this sentiment is spot on. NOBODY ever discusses the real reason criminals have guns. There are too many to name, but they all usually go back to an unhealthy relationship to money and greed in our society, the paper chase. I'm not saying we need to be communists. Even ancient Rome fed it's peasants in the street. There is a civic as well as a spiritual responsibility we have towards mankind. We are all on the same side here. Our individual salvation depends on our collective salvation. You can't keep killing the problem. You must educate and preserve life.

On a small scale guns could be replaced with Tasers and other close range defense mechanisms. Guns initial purpose was to defend against the tyranny of government by forming militia. Which I would argue a gun or semi automatic won't do much against our current military. The 2nd Amendment is dated to say the least. It was meant for defending against Indians and the British. I'm pretty sure the peaceful education of our enemies and ourselves has turned these foes into our brothers.

The world is more educated than ever... and there are social networking sites and the internet which can disseminate information faster than ever. We can either be part of a global arms race and kill ourselves or we can seek virtue, truth, and education in order to live in harmony.

I will add that GUNS aren't really the issue at hand. It's a disconnection to our spirituality. And not a religious spirituality, a mankind spirituality that connects us all. If we really loved all life (not liked) but loved life we would be in favor of preserving it and educating the world to preserve it. Guns are just a reminder of our mortal beings and immortal souls.