By Nathan Barton

Good morning! Offense and religious attitudes feature in these next three articles.  A short commentary today; as am traveling.

Religious wars?  In Texas, Governor Rick Perry transferred his authority to new Governor Greg Abbott in an interesting and controversial ceremony this week, ending his time as Texas’ longest-serving governor.  Part of this included passing on a copy of a Bible which has been used by Texan governors since Texas joined the Union in 1845, and Perry underlined a passage as a “gift” to the new governor (Matthew 20:25-28: 25 But Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and the men of high position exercise power over them. 26 It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,  27and whoever wants to be first among you must be your•slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life — a ransom for many.”)  This frosted any number of anti-religion groups and activists, but at the same time both Abbott and the incoming Lieutenant Governor quoted (and cited book, chapter, and verse) numerous Bible passages in their speeches, which led to widespread condemnations from various groups that want to see no religion (except humanism and its relatives: environism and evolution and atheism) in public life.  My problem with this is that the people reading and quoting these passages, especially that one in Matthew, CANNOT or WILL NOT apply that teaching to their own offices and actions and government.  Note that it is those who claim NOT to be religious that are offended here.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet, more religious wars: The Caliphate (Islamic State/ISIS/ISIL) has done it again: topped themselves in committing atrocities, as they continue to implement Shari’a and work on their goal of killing 500 million people.  This time, the “authorities” executed 13 football fans – all Muslims – for watching Iraq play Jordan in a soccer match on television, in Caliphate-occupied Mosul.  They were taken out and machine-gunned to death, as if in homage to various Soviet, Chinese Communist, and National Socialist massacres in times past (well, the Chinese Communists still do mass executions like this).  At least we had no beheadings or crucifixion this way.  Exactly HOW they violated Shari’a is not explained; maybe they missed a mandatory prayer time because they were watching the action on the field?  I am sure that it wasn’t for ogling the cheerleaders or fans, not when both teams were from relatively hyper Islamic nations.  Some wag suggested it is a warm-up for a Caliphate attack on the Super Bowl?  Notice that this time, it is those who claim to be religious that are offended here.

Also here Stateside, in a WalMart, a 40-something white guy attacked a 60-something black guy when he saw his concealed weapon briefly as his jacket flew open, screaming that “he has a gun” and tackling him and wrestling him down, while the old guy was protesting “I have a permit.”  No explanation of why the guy with the gun didn’t defend himself with it, but that might have been for the best in this case. I find it pleasantly shocking that the police arrested the guy who attacked the old man, and he is being charged with assault.  Several people point out that the attacker “should have called 911” but others rightly point out that based on the recent events in WalMarts (and elsewhere) that 911 call might have resulted in cops shooting and killing the CCW man.  My own take is that the young guy is an idiot and should have  minded his own business: the armed man was not doing anything in the least threatening OR unusual.  Of course, I (like many people who open carry and even some who carry concealed) have had cops called on me and been accosted by them, indeed more than once.  This CCW guy was not in a state where it is actually (incredibly) illegal for a concealed weapon to be visible, at least.  No word on whether the white guy was religious (or which religion) or not, but Moms Against Self Defense (“Moms Demand Action”) was certainly offended that the attacker was arrested and charged, and we know that they worship the state.  So again, religion (or non-religion) is offended by something.  And takes violent action against it.

Mama’s Note: The story I read on this said the idiot saw the elder man holster his gun as he exited his vehicle, then followed him into the store before he tackled him. I’d say the aggressor needs to be given a thorough psych evaluation. Attacking an armed man like that is certainly insane, and he’s very fortunate the gentleman didn’t shoot him.

I have to leave my gun in the car when I go into the post office and then reholster when I get back to the car. Always makes me a little nervous, worried that someone will see me doing this and get the wrong idea.