My friend, Rodney Sabel, was limited to a single 500-word reply in opposition to his temple’s Gun Legislation Advocacy Committee. With his permission, I am reprinting his response in full here. Although from 2013, every word is still very much applicable. You will learn from Rodney’s vast knowledge how Judaism mandates self-defense and defense of innocents.
This Temple’s Gun Legislation Advocacy Committee has been granted a great deal of time, space and resources to circulate information about so-called “sensible gun legislation”, while the opposition is limited to this single 500-word reply. If this is to be an “open conversation,” then arguments on both sides MUST be given equal standing, consideration and respect. We can have a rational conversation balancing rights, risks and rewards without the color of hysteria, demonizing characterizations, pumped up propaganda or media hype type attacks. To that end, numerous independent real-world studies have all concluded that so-called “sensible gun legislation” have only increased violent crime by shifting the balance of power in favor of violent criminals while it disarms helpless victims.
In the book of Genesis, Abraham “arms his 318 servants” to rescue his nephew Lot and others kidnapped by Mesopotamians. In Exodus 2:12, Moses slays the cruel Egyptian slave master who was about to murder an innocent Jew. It is written in Joel 4:10, “Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears; let the weak say: ‘I am strong’.” In the biblical verse, “Neither shall you stand by the blood of your neighbor” (Leviticus 19:16), Rabbis teach us that the law of pikuach nefesh (saving innocent lives) takes precedence over all other laws. Modern “Good Samaritan Laws” derive from this Levitical precept. Furthermore, Rabbis recognize the obligation to defend our own lives (Exodus 22:1). The Talmud states, “[I]f someone comes to kill you, get up early in the morning to kill him first” (Sanhedrin 72a). Additionally, the Talmud compels bystanders to kill if necessary to prevent murder or other horrendous crimes (Sanhedrin 73a). The story of Hanukkah is not about candles and Sufganiyot, but one about a desperate armed struggle defending Jews and rescuing Judaism. These Judaic Principles are thoroughly embedded within the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment.
LAPD‘s motto is “to protect and to serve.” Don’t bet your life on it. Section 845, California Government Code, grants near-universal immunity from prosecution when government fails to provide personal Police protection. You are on your own; ask Reginald Denny (LA Riots). Ask Congresswomen Giffords how long it took the Police to arrive; —seven agonizing minutes–! In most situations we are the first responders. Remember, when seconds count…police are minutes away.
Some say, “Gun control is worth it if it saves one life.” But, what if it costs one life…or the 350 killed in Chicago? What do you say to those 350 families? A dozen national studies of crime have all shown gun control laws don’t work and only result in more crime deaths. The Jewish Philosopher, Philo of Alexandria, 2,000 years ago, thought it foolish to blame arms rather than criminals for crime. What’s changed? Tikkun olam, a Kabbalistic construct, embraces improvement or repair. “Sensible gun legislation” isn’t sensible because it is the antithesis of Tikkun olam. Prohibition against alcohol; how well did that work? War on drugs; how’s that going? I think it’s time to have that honest dialogue about what does work.
