For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn—and I would heal them. ~Matthew 13:15 (NRSV)

We could use some serious healing right now. It’s no longer months between mass shootings, but weeks. And before the blood of children and elders has dried on the church pews come the thoughts and prayers. All truly sorry for this tragedy. All shocked at the senseless violence. All empty; meaningless; worthless.

Because the only god listening is the god of the gun. The rest of the gods are silent because they have said their peace: Thou Shall Not Kill. Love thy enemy. Those who live by the sword will die by the sword. What god would still listen to thoughts and prayers of the same people are unwilling to beat their guns into plowshares? The country has made up its mind and chosen the name of the destroyer. America would rather see its children slaughtered than give up its precious right to bear arms.

I have no more patience for your platitudes and empty arguments. If you have hardened your heart toward the reality that the only thing all these tragedies have in common are “men” and “guns” than the blood of innocents is on your hands too. And you will be judged by god or by history as being complicit in mass murder. I mark you all Cain; the blood in the Earth cries out!

I will not stand idly by as you perpetuate a country of death for my child to live in, lest he be your next human sacrifice. I will tear down your false idol. I will strip you of your weapons of death. I will make it so that children can once again be safe in their schools. Safe for people to gather in song and dance. Safe for people to congregate in prayer and worship.

I am convinced the only way to do this is by making it increasingly hard to own a gun. It will require registration. Background checks. Yearly mental health reviews. Limits on ammunition. Serial numbers. Litigation and liability for sellers of guns and for owners of guns. Buyback programs. Mass destruction of all unregistered and unaccounted weapons. So… much… more.

It will take years. Perhaps decades. It is possible; so many other countries have done this. All of this and more is worth the life of one child. One mother. One father. One friend. One human being. I will not wait for gods or angels or answered prayers; I choose now. Those of you who read these words, you have a choice too. Continue to worship your god of death or open your heart and turn away from your guns. Your time is coming to an end.

There is no room anymore for those who serve two masters.