Early this morning, Sarah Silverman urged “gun boners” (her oh-so-classy word for Second Amendment supporters) to heed this comment from Pope Francis:
How much suffering, how much devastation, how much pain has the use of arms carried in its wake.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) September 2, 2013
Silverman neglected to mention that the Pope made this remark during his appeal for peace in Syria. Here is the context:
There are so many conflicts in this world which cause me great suffering and worry, but in these days my heart is deeply wounded in particular by what is happening in Syria and anguished by the dramatic developments which are looming. I appeal strongly for peace, an appeal which arises from the deep within me. How much suffering, how much devastation, how much pain has the use of arms carried in its wake in that martyred country, especially among civilians and the unarmed! I think of many children will not see the light of the future! With utmost firmness I condemn the use of chemical weapons: I tell you that those terrible images from recent days are burned into my mind and heart. There is a judgment of God and of history upon our actions which are inescapable! Never has the use of violence brought peace in its wake. War begets war, violence begets violence.
[Emphasis added.]
As far as we know, Pope Francis has not said anything about gun control. In any case, what does his statement decrying the use of chemical weapons in Syria have to do with regulation of guns in the U.S.?
If anything, his mention of increased suffering among the unarmed in Syria seems like an argument for owning guns.
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