Actress Alyssa Milano started a Twitter debate with Senator Ted Cruz on the Bible and the Second Amendment following three gun attacks over the Labor Day weekend, according to the Christian Post.
The controversy began after a gunman killed seven people and injured 22 others in West Texas on Saturday. Texas state Sen. Matt Schaefer tweeted after the attacks: “I am NOT going to use the evil acts of a handful of people to diminish the God-given rights of my fellow Texans…YES to your God-given, constitutionally protected rights. YES to God, and NO to more government intrusions.”
I am NOT going to use the evil acts of a handful of people to diminish the God-given rights of my fellow Texans. Period. None of these so-called gun-control solutions will work to stop a person with evil intent. 2/6
— Matt Schaefer (@RepMattSchaefer) September 1, 2019
Milano responded, “Can someone cite which passage of the Bible God states it is a god-given right to own a gun?”
Can someone cite which passage of the Bible God states it is a god-given right to own a gun? This guy is unbelievable and is clearly owned by the gun lobby. #NoRA https://t.co/PxVV1RoV2Z
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) September 1, 2019
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas fired back: “The right to self-defense is recognized repeatedly in the Bible, eg Exodus 22:2: ‘If a thief is caught breaking in at night & is struck a fatal blow, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed.’ (Note, though, verse 3 says it IS murder if during daylight (i.e., not self-defense).”
2/x The right to self-defense is recognized repeatedly in the Bible, eg Exodus 22:2: “If a thief is caught breaking in at night & is struck a fatal blow, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed.” (Note, though, verse 3 says it IS murder if during daylight (ie, not self-defense).
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 1, 2019
While the Bible does not specifically mention gun ownership, Cruz argued, it does clearly state one’s right to defend life and family. He also shared how, gun owner and NRA instructor, Stephen Willeford tracked down and injured the shooter who opened fire at Sutherland Springs First Baptist Church in Texas, the Christian Post reports.
“That’s also why, post-Civil War, disarming black Americans was a critical objective of the KKK, and was memorialized in countless Jim Crow laws—to strip African Americans of their God-given right to self-defense from violence,” Cruz said.
8/x That’s also why, post Civil War, disarming Black Americans was a critical objective of the KKK, and was memorialized in countless Jim Crow laws—to strip African-Americans of their God-given right to self-defense from violence.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 2, 2019
In response to his thread, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn, argued that no one wants to take away people’s guns, but that instead stricter restrictions must be enforced for the safety of the country.
“Nowhere in [James] Madison’s copious notes from the Constitutional Convention does he mention the 2nd Amendment being about the private right of gun ownership. And the term ‘bear arms,’ which today is connected with private gun ownership, back then was connected to militias,” Murphy said.
4/x Nowhere in Madison’s copious notes from the Constitutional Convention does he mention the 2nd Amendment being about the private right of gun ownership. And the term “bear arms”, which today is connected with private gun ownership, back then was connected to militias.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) September 2, 2019
“No Democrat is arguing to outlaw private gun ownership,” he continued. “But we do believe, as the founders did, that there should be reasonable limits on gun ownership. Like, some people are too dangerous to own guns, and a few guns are [too] dangerous to own.”
4/x Nowhere in Madison’s copious notes from the Constitutional Convention does he mention the 2nd Amendment being about the private right of gun ownership. And the term “bear arms”, which today is connected with private gun ownership, back then was connected to militias.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) September 2, 2019
After the exchange, Milano suggested a face-to-face meeting with Cruz to discuss gun control. “I’d love to come in and meet with you on the gun issue and many other issues that include life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, @tedcruz and also, 1 Peter 4:8. I’ll be in DC next week. We can live-stream the meeting so the American people can hear your bull—— 1st hand.”
I’d love to come in and meet with you on the gun issue and many other issues that include life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, @tedcruz and also, 1 Peter 4:8.
I’ll be in DC next week. We can live-stream the meeting so the American people can hear your bullshit 1st hand. https://t.co/S3ljfjjOtG
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) September 2, 2019
“I’d be happy to sit down & visit next week about uniting to stop gun violence & about the Constitution,” Cruz tweeted in response. “If we can have a civil & positive conversation — in the spirit of 1 Peter 4:8 as you suggest — despite our political differences, that might help resolve the discord in our Nation.”
1 Peter 4:8 in the NIV translation says, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
I’d be happy to sit down & visit next week about uniting to stop gun violence & about the Constitution. If we can have a civil & positive conversation—in the spirit of 1 Peter 4:8 as you suggest—despite our political differences, that might help resolve the discord in our Nation. https://t.co/YfkB97wAA0
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 3, 2019
Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Jesse Grant/Stringer
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