Shooting Ourselves in the FootTeaching Violence and Killing: The State of New York
A Shooting Ourselves in the Foot: The Sanitizing of Violence in Our Society Article from All-Creatures.org

Throughout the ages, we have accepted killing, violence, and violent behavior as just being a part of life - it's time we change!

By: Frank L. Hoffman

Teaching Killing It might seem strange to learn that the State of New York sponsors and is behind much of the teaching of violence and killing to our children, but that is exactly what the State is doing.  They sanitize their destructive teaching under the names of environment and sport, but it is nevertheless instilling in our children the concept that violence and killing are viable options to solving the problems in our society.

The recent Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide (pictured left), published by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is a typical example, for it pictures a smiling child holding a dead rabbit.  They are giving the message that violence and killing should make a person happy.  And we wonder why some of our children go astray!

Jesus taught us in Matthew 5:9 (NASV) "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."  I cannot conceive of any way that teaching our children how to kill could be classified as teaching our children to be peacemakers.  Thus, if it is not, then the State and everyone else who participates in this activity are guilty of teaching our children to be sons and daughters of the devil.  I believe this is deliberately leading our children astray.   Additionally, according to the Hebrew teaching, to take pleasure in the suffering or death of any living being is a sin.

In Matthew 18:5-7 (NIV), Jesus tells us:

5. "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.

6. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

7. "Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!

It's time we begin to take responsibility for our actions.  It's time we stop shooting ourselves in the foot by sanitizing violence in our society.   It's time we stop leading our children astray.  It's time we teach our children to be the peacemakers the Lord desires them to be.

-Our thanks to Anne Muller (C. A. S. H.) for her article which inspired this writing.

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