Guns, Radicalization, Love, Islam and Trump.

Holla I got a few things I would like to address....

1. Gun related images on facebook every time there's a shooting, why? I know, I know good guys with guns vs bad guys with guns makes bad guys dead. How does that really work? Let's just think about that how many people who are "good guys" that are in a position in life to carry a concealed gun around 24/7 ? Some jobs it's just not realistic or safe to be carrying around a weapon. For example me working in a preschool with kids grabbing me all the time, I could find countless examples of times where you can not safely conceal carry.  There just seems to be to many reasons for a someone to not carry a gun all the time but it's an idea that I guess gives some hope to ending shootings. So let's talk about that those good guys that do carry. Say by off chance there is a mass shooting and someone is decked out in military tactical gear and you have a handgun, is it really likely that you will be able stop them? If you try I will and the rest of society should think of you as a very courageous human but I don't see a strong likelihood you could come out of that altercation alive.

Which brings me to another rant people who want to conceal carry for the reasons above to help protect the people are quite brave in willing to put themselves in that position. It doesn't matter that I don't really think statistics is on their side, but with decent background checks and training why shouldn't we let them carry guns? Why is it even a question?! They are willing to put themselves in those positions to help protect society. Please stop knocking their fears of getting their gun rights taken away.

2. I believe our country is at war with a small minority of radicalized Abrahamic Religions. Radicalized Islam and to a more extent in our homeland radicalized Christians. The issues of how this radicalization is happening is complex and I assume varies from person to person. Like believing in mormonism no one comes to a faith in the religion by the exact same means. For some it's the community, some the book of mormon, some it is the doctrine and a lot of other reasons just listen to a good fast and testimony session and you'll realize there's so many differences just in mormonism! I assume and believe the paths to dark radicalization is as diverse as what I see in my faith, we can't just cut off one route like (Filtering the internet)1. and think that can solve the problem.

3. I do not have an answer to stop the trouble in the world and no meme or short facebook post is going to fix anything all it will do is get people to unfollow me and ignore my ideals and what's going on in my life. All I can do is to treat people with kindness, love and respect. If we love those who disagree on gun issues and respect their desires there will be less hate, if we love those who want to ban guns there will be less anger fueled to them. If we love and respect all Christians and Muslims there will be less anger and disenfranchisement in the world. Everyone wants to post something on social media thinking it will solve the world (even me with this blog post) everyone including me is scared of mass shootings we want it gone. We want to feel safe!

4. Islam is a good religion, the similarities between islam and mormonism are huge. It is also a complicated faith with many interpretations, but when you go straight to the source material It is quite a unique faith that has over a billion faithful followers. Please read these links if you want to know more about the true tenets of Islam not what the small minority of radicalized believers think, just as us mormons would not like people to study the FLDS to understand our faith we should look to the vast majority of what muslims believe to get a clearer understanding.

• Almost 50 years old and a little dated in knowledge of Islam but still a great talk and source from the LDS Church.                                                         https://www.lds.org/ensign/1972/03/islam-and-mormonism-a-comparison?lang=eng 
• Byu Published a whole book in the 80'es on the similarities it's free to read online, knock yourself out...                                                                             https://rsc.byu.edu/archived/mormons-and-muslims/introduction
• A website by Muslims to educate people, I really liked it.                                               http://www.ask-a-muslim.com/islam/what-muslim-believe/
• A very conservative American Interpretation (Glenn Beck) http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2012/09/16/who-are-muslims-what-do-they-believe-this-is-the-controversial-history-surrounding-muhammad-islam/
• Lazy? Youtube video.                                                                     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPhQdll0oX0

5. Trump, if you become president will you submit to drug test you for cocaine use? Seriously give us your hair and lets test it, well actually let's just do a blood test I don't trust your hair.


(Random)My history with guns.
My family then did not have a close relationship with the sport.
In 2nd grade a child I sat next to on the bus brought a fully loaded handgun to school with intent to shoot bullies, I was not a bully then but it still frightened me.
In middle school I knew a boy who accidentally shot and killed his friend while cleaning out a neighbor's garage.
In high school I knew people that were victims of what happened in Trolley Square.
I have known and heard of too many people being able to quickly take their life due to access to guns while in a bad mental state.
I have seen too many times in my life the scary side of a dangerous tool, Just like those who get in a lot of car accidents start to fear cars. I given my life experiences to some degree fear guns. It is not politically motivated and I don't have enough education to have a political view on gun control.



1 https://www.ksl.com/?sid=37680174&nid=757

Give a little more.

I spend way too much time on facebook and what not and I seem to come across shared blogs every day or so that follow a familiar line. Someone was treated poorly in the social sphere of the church whether it be from coming home from a mission early, to not going on a mission, being divorced, the usual "putting off marriage" talk from others and leaders acting inappropriately.  

I stopped this whole blog thing awhile ago because I haven't had much to say, but at last I feel I need to speak up. I have had more than a couple of these bad experiences with leadership and members. The last thing I would want to do is blame the gospel of Jesus Christ for their behavior, we live in two worlds at the same time when we are members of the church. We share spiritual view and share very close social sphere. The two are very different for me, there has been times in my adult life where that social sphere has made me question if I really wanted to go to church or a ward activity but in the end my spiritual religious side decided it was right for me to push forward through the awkwardness of social groups. 

Leaders are not therapists, counselors or the answers to all your problems. They can offend and make you feel inadequate, It has definitely happened to me. The thing that makes it easy to forgive off the wall comments and advice is trying to put myself in their shoes, they have families and full time jobs. Then they have huge issues with various members of the ward, and some members trying to come to them with the answers to their problems, it has got to be stressful. they have a lot of things going on all at once. They are bound to make mistakes and if they make mistakes, the service they are giving is their best and I still appreciate them. With that said there are bad people in the world and in the church, if things are way way out of line, report it! It is why we have leaders and stake presidents and counselors. Abuse and misconduct happen in the church and in callings. I think if we all realize that bishops, young women and men leaders can make mistakes it would make it easier for us to be honest and as children report abuse and as adults help us to not get offended as much. We all are human and unless we never talk we will always offend someone, put our foot in our mouth and we all always need to repent and forgive.