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Faith

‘Guns Use People Too’: Anglican Leader Backs Stricter U.S. Gun Control to Stop People From Being ‘Manipulated Into Violent Action’

Dec. 22, 2012 5:35pm
Archbishop Rowan Williams Backs U.S. Gun Control

Outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams (R) smiles during a meeting at the General Synod of the Church of England, at Church House in central London on November 21, 2012. Credit: AFP/Getty Images

LONDON (TheBlaze/AP) — The spiritual leader of the world’s 80 million-strong Anglican Communion threw his support behind stricter gun laws in the U.S. on Saturday, saying the easy availability of powerful weapons drew vulnerable people toward violence.

Rowan Williams, who is stepping down from his role as the archbishop of Canterbury at the end of the year, referred to the recent massacre of 26 children and staff at a school in Newtown, Connecticut. His comments will likely spark debate among people of faith. As TheBlaze noted last week, there are very different ideas among religious people when it comes to gun control proposals.

Williams said it was hard to get into the spirit of Christmas given the “lives cut so brutally short and of the unimaginable loss and trauma suffered by parents.” He made the comments on BBC radio program “Thought for the Day,” a slot devoted to religious perspectives on life and current affairs.

Williams acknowledged that gun control was a sensitive issue in the U.S., but said the firepower that weapons manufacturers were putting at Americans’ disposal made such massacres more likely.

“People use guns but, in a sense, guns use people too,” he said. “When we have the technology for violence easily to hand, our choices are skewed and we are more vulnerable to being manipulated into violent action.”

Archbishop Rowan Williams Backs U.S. Gun Control

Outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams (CR) and his wife Jane (CL) recieve applaus after he gave his farewell speech during the General Synod of the Church of England, at Church House in central London on November 21, 2012. Credit: AFP/Getty Images

Britain has far stricter controls on firearms and far lower levels of gun crime than the U.S. — so much so that few British police officers carry guns and one of the country’s biggest crime-prevention priorities involves keeping teenagers from carrying knives. Authorities in England and Wales generally record between three and five dozen gun homicides a year; in the U.S., comparable figures range between 10,000 and 11,000.

The Episcopal Church, a member of the global Anglican Communion, has around 2 million baptized members in the U.S.

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Related:

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Comments (108)

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  • grimmster
    Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:29pm

    Who is this ass, and why do i give a damn?

    Report this comment

    grimmster  
    • TH30PH1LUS
      Posted on December 22, 2012 at 9:18pm

      Williams said it was hard to get into the spirit of Christmas given the “lives cut so brutally short and of the unimaginable loss and trauma suffered by parents.”

      Yeah and I imagine it was the same for all the parents in Bethlehem whose children were slaughtered on King Herod’s orders in an attempt to wipe out the newborn Messiah. Bet they wish they had guns to protect their children.

      Report this comment

      TH30PH1LUS  
    • roscoe569
      Posted on December 22, 2012 at 9:33pm

      If you didn’t care, why did you bother posting?

      Report this comment

      roscoe569  
    • PATTY HENRY
      Posted on December 23, 2012 at 3:05am

      I thought they kicked this far left progressive liberal commie out of the Anglican Church a year ago..he’s still here? What an arrogant piece of work he is. An ego that knows no end. Go away silly Liberal … you represent nothing that GOD has prescribed for His people.

      Report this comment

      PATTY HENRY  
    • Quiata
      Posted on December 23, 2012 at 6:42am

      Well, if England ever becomes unglued, at least they’re allowed to have their baseball bats for self-defense. :/

      Report this comment

      Quiata  
    • Glennda
      Posted on December 23, 2012 at 1:34pm

      Philistine!

      Report this comment

      Glennda  
    • lukerw
      Posted on December 23, 2012 at 1:35pm

      Historically… Swords have killed more people than all the Guns & Canons ever made… because Humans are Preditory KILLERS!

      Report this comment

      lukerw  
    • Techcon
      Posted on December 23, 2012 at 1:45pm

      Attention Anglican leader dumba$$, the AR-15 has been available for civilian purchase since 1959!

      All of a sudden, it’s a problem? I don’t think so!

      Plus, guns don’t kill people, bullets do.

      Americans burn through 2.5 BILLION rounds of .22 LR a YEAR!

      10k deaths/2.5B bullets equates to 1 death for every 250,000 bullets.

      That’s counting only ONE caliber! Add in .380, .38, .357, 9mm, 40S&W, and .45–not to mention shotgun and rifle calibers and reloading–and we could be talking twice that much, easily!

      That’s one death for every 500,000 bullets!

      Based on this reasoning, “Death by Bullet” is EXTREMELY rare in the USA and one hell of a lot rarer than Britain.

      Americans are a SAFE, SANE, and loving people.

      The number of guns owned–AND BULLETS SENT DOWN RANGE–proves it.

      Our problem here is the ACLU, which fights to keep as many psychos on the streets as they can.

      Report this comment

      Techcon  
    • Trigus
      Posted on December 23, 2012 at 11:51pm

      UK Home Office reported there was 11,726 crimes committed involving firearms in the UK and Whales.

      How that gun control working out across the pond old canty.

      Report this comment

      Trigus  
    • Trigus
      Posted on December 24, 2012 at 9:45am

      @TECh – Clarification:

      There where only 8,753 murders involving firearms in 2011 according to the FBI. Only 353 of those murders involved Rifles. There was 1688 murders committed with Knives and 787 committed with hands and feet.

      If Old Canty had these numbers. He may want to ban knives, hands, and feet before Rifles. I still would like someone to ask OLD Canty how is gun control working out in the UK.

      Report this comment

      Trigus  
  • m14guy
    Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:26pm

    As Jack Hawkins said to William Holden in Bridge Over the River Kwai….”there always the unexpected”….

    Report this comment

    m14guy  
  • GuruMeditation
    Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:25pm

    The only manipulation taking place is on behalf of the gun-control crowd.

    Report this comment

    GuruMeditation  
    • Quiata
      Posted on December 23, 2012 at 6:43am

      “When people learn no tools of judgement and merely follow their hopes, the seeds of political manipulation are sown.” Stephen Jay Gould

      Report this comment

      Quiata  
  • oldsoldier10
    Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:24pm

    Rowan Williams go to and enjoy you stay in hell swapping spit with satan! you are a worthless p0s.

    Report this comment

    oldsoldier10  
  • All Pro
    Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:24pm

    How’s that gun ban thingy working out for our friends down under?

    The statistics for the years following the ban are now in:

    Accidental gun deaths are 300% higher than the pre-1997 ban rate
    The assault rate has increased 800% since 1991, and increased 200% since the 1997 gun ban.
    Robbery and armed robbery have increase 20% from the pre-97 ban rate.
    From immediately after the ban was instituted in 1997 through 2002, the robbery and armed robbery rate was up 200% over the pre-ban rates
    http://www.reasonorforce.com/2010/08/australian-gun-ban-facts-statistics.html

    Report this comment

    All Pro  
    • katzkiner
      Posted on December 23, 2012 at 7:24pm

      The gun crime and assault rate went up similarly in England after their gun ban. In fact England violent crime rate is almost 20% higher than the US crime rate. The EU countries have crime rates 200 to 400% higher than England’s. And we should listen to them????

      Report this comment

      katzkiner  
  • aproudinfidel
    Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:23pm

    And yet another British moron weighs in on what America should do. Why doesn’t he mind his own business? Seems like his church has plenty of issues to tangle with, like having homosexual bishops preaching the gospel

    Report this comment

    aproudinfidel  
  • breakobamanow
    Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:21pm

    Luke 12:56
    Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
    Ephesians 6:12
    For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

    If he is a believer in Gods word, why is it he cannot discern that objects don’t control people? Even their idols are weak and cannot do anything. The wicked spirits ruling this world are the true culprit. Get some of the God of the bible in people and these will abate. Anyone who cannot discern from the scripture these simple truths are lost and following these spirits. I’ll continue to pray; and Gods will be done to a generation who have rejected him.

    Report this comment

    breakobamanow  
  • Constitutionalist Lineman
    Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:16pm

    Hopefully your gun doesn’t use its masters degree in human manipulation to make you act violently unprovoked

    Report this comment

    Constitutionalist Lineman  
  • Nicholson William R
    Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:14pm

    I still have a difficult time with people whom are supposed to be enlightened , yet have no idea about evil. This person has supposedly a life behind him that has been devoted to studying The Bible and how to combat evil. It is a wonder that he has read and studied much yet understood none. Where people are unfamiliar and do not fear God , there is satan and evil , to fill the void. The weapon does not matter as , if there no guns , someone will use a homemade bomb or some other device. This leader should step down as he appears to be manipulated by simpletons working for the evil one. He may be politically correct yet will not pay attention to The Author of the Most Popular Book ever written ! Would everyone within his ear shot this season please shout Merry Christmas to him. If he hears it often enough maybe he’ll start thinking about what God says instead of the politically correct mob ! God is not politically correct but I’ll listen to Him !

    Report this comment

    Nicholson William R  
    • breakobamanow
      Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:22pm

      A’-men

      Report this comment

      breakobamanow  
    • dwilco77
      Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:26pm

      There are numerous articles, if you look, out of London which show that the crime rate in England is greater than 5 times that in the U.S. Do not let the spinners, spin the true statistics about crime and people being able to protect themselves. Even here in the U.S., more people are killed with instruments other than guns., and in fact, over the last two years, violent crime rates have decreased in the U.S., whereas, there are few other Countries that can claim that.

      http://wheelgun.blogspot.com/2007/01/crime-in-uk-versus-crime-in-us.html

      Report this comment

      dwilco77  
  • baer1966
    Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:06pm

    I think he meant ugly sticks use people, like the one that used the person who used one on his wife.

    Report this comment

    baer1966  
  • perry1980
    Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:04pm

    Let me get ths straight
    Guns are people bur Fetuses aren’t?

    Report this comment

    perry1980  
  • Tri-ox
    Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:03pm

    Uh, guns are inanimate objects – they CAN’T use anyone or do anything. Those who believe that a gun, or any inanimate object, can USE people or MAKE people do anything, are obviously mentally ill.

    Report this comment

    Tri-ox  
  • Extremerightwing
    Posted on December 22, 2012 at 5:58pm

    Blaze censors!

    Report this comment

    Extremerightwing  
  • DougHuffman
    Posted on December 22, 2012 at 5:55pm

    GeeZeus, another HRH subject trying to re-start the revolution.

    Report this comment

    DougHuffman  
  • david3755
    Posted on December 22, 2012 at 5:54pm

    Anyone who thinks an inanimate object uses them has got some mental disease issues. He may be a priest but in England he is only a subject, not a citizen as we are in America with rights.

    Report this comment

    david3755  
  • m14guy
    Posted on December 22, 2012 at 5:51pm

    I have 3 safes full. I have never had one open the safe come out and “use me”. I have never ever had one do anything illegal or against the law. BTW, how does it feel to live in a country that has completely lost it’s identity? I want to know because we are rapidly catching up…..

    Report this comment

    m14guy  
  • stopprintn
    Posted on December 22, 2012 at 5:51pm

    They are best to start laxing thier gun laws. Unless they plan to control the Islamo facists with sticks and stones.

    Report this comment

    stopprintn  
  • All Pro
    Posted on December 22, 2012 at 5:49pm

    Another Limey checking in. They just can’t get over the fact that we kicked their sorry butts……twice. Maybe we should have waited until after Hitler invaded them to help them. Maybe then they would understand the importance of an armed citizenry. When the communist Chinese are advocating disarming US citizens something is very wrong.

    Report this comment

    All Pro  
  • PR-WY
    Posted on December 22, 2012 at 5:49pm

    Guns force or influence you to be a criminal? WOW

    Such ignorance.

    I have many, I am not a criminal, nor do I want to be. Shoots that theory out of the water. Why do people come up with such ridiculous assertions?

    Report this comment

    PR-WY  
  • sparkyrules
    Posted on December 22, 2012 at 5:48pm

    “People use guns but, in a sense, guns use people too,” he said. “When we have the technology for violence easily to hand, our choices are skewed and we are more vulnerable to being manipulated into violent action.”
    Huh?What?Another British singing the song of the sheep?Who would’ve guessed?

    Report this comment

    sparkyrules  
  • Old_Warrior
    Posted on December 22, 2012 at 5:48pm

    My parents had guns in their closet. All clean, working, and a box of bullets not far away. Never once did any of those guns leap out and shoot anybody by themselves. Those guns had more than 30 years to jump out and slaughter my parents on their own, but they didn’t.

    Hello, Captain Obvious, we have a problem! And it’s not the guns, but the people who mis-use them!

    Report this comment

    Old_Warrior  
  • Teufel Hunden
    Posted on December 22, 2012 at 5:44pm

    He should just turn the other cheek, that is, if his boyfriend is through with it.

    Report this comment

    Teufel Hunden  
  • The_Jerk
    Posted on December 22, 2012 at 5:43pm

    Brits never get it right. We whipped their asses to get away from their nonsense.

    Report this comment

    The_Jerk  
    • Red Meat
      Posted on December 22, 2012 at 5:51pm

      Why does eurotrash always put their nose into our business? Is it that they are jealous of our freedoms?

      Report this comment

      Red Meat  
  • hatchetjob
    Posted on December 22, 2012 at 5:40pm

    “guns use people too”. No, Satan uses people.

    Report this comment

    hatchetjob  
  • mrunner
    Posted on December 22, 2012 at 5:39pm

    Look past the collar and you see just another Brit who doesn’t understand our history and constitution…

    Report this comment

    mrunner  
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