Pope Francis Condemns Jihadist Violence

Titusville, FL –“His Holiness Pope Francis deserves thanks for his condemnation of jihadist violence,” gun rights expert John M. Snyder said here as 2015 began

“At the same time,” Snyder added, “let us realize people need guns to defend themselves against murderous Islamist brutality.  Let us uphold the right and ability of innocent individuals to obtain and use personal firearms.”

Snyder said that, “When some church leaders fail to promote the arming of victims and potential victims of criminal violence, they are out of touch with current reality.  The attempt on the part of some Vatican officials to pass the buck to the United Nations for the defense of Christians and others is ludicrous.  Individuals themselves must be able to protect themselves and others from violent terrorists and other criminals.

Snyder said, “Vatican and United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) officials should demand that personal firearms be delivered to victims and potential victims of murderous groups.  They could liquidate their holdings and buy guns for Catholics and others who need firearms for self-defense.  That would be genuine charity.

“While prayer and fine wishes are commendable, they are below the test bar of charity towards Christians who face violence from jihadists and other criminals.  The people need guns for personal self-defense.  The USCCB policy promoting general criminalization of private handgun acquisition and possession in the United States is an outrage.  It is absurd for Vatican policy to support private small arms trade bans.”

Snyder noted, “Christ Our Lord Himself said ‘the man without a sword must sell his cloak and buy one,’ according to Luke 22:36.  Indeed, Christ’s Apostle St. James, in his Epistle 2:14-18, questioned the faith of those who talk a good line but don’t act in a practical manner to alleviate suffering.”

Snyder said, “The refusal to promote the use of individual force to fight perpetrators of evil is in effect a reprehensible surrender to the forces of evil.  Such refusal actually invites evil forces to attack innocent men, women and children.  Church officials may fear even to consider the value of personal armed force in self-defense.  If they do, let us hope and pray they overcome this fear.  Let them come to the aid of co-religionists and others who suffer from murderous assaults.”

Named the “dean of Washington gun lobbyists” by the Washington Post and New York Times, Snyder has been called “a champion of the right of self-defense” by the Washington Times, the “senior rights activist in Washington” by Shotgun News, and the “gun dean” by Human Events.

About John Snyder:
Named the Gun Dean by Human Events, “the senior rights activist in Washington” by Shotgun News, a “champion of the right to self-defense” by The Washington Times, and “dean of gun lobbyists” by The Washington Post and The New York Times, John M. Snyder has spent 45 years as a proponent of the individual Second Amendment civil right to keep and bear arms as a National Rifle Association editor, public affairs director of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, treasurer of the Second Amendment Foundation, and founder of www.GunRightsPolicies.org.

A former Jesuit seminarian, Snyder is founder/manager of Telum Associates, LL.C., founder/chairman of the St. Gabriel Possenti Society, Inc., a director of Council for America, and serves on the boards of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and the American Federation of Police & Concerned Citizens. He is also the author of the book Gun Saint. Visit: www.GunRightsPolicies.org