Sadly, in many if not all human societies currently extant, the possession of personal firearms or similar weapons by the common man is indeed something of a necessity, or at least an extremely prudent precaution. I have no issue with that, or the second amendment.
What I do take issue with is people glorying in such things, and treating them as something to be celebrated. They're not - personal weapons, and their necessity, are a reminder of just how primitive, barbarous and self-destructively chaotic and divided human civilisation remains, even in the most self-proclaimedly advanced nations.
The most necessary, justifiable act of killing, whether by a civilian in self defence, by a rebel against a corrupt state, or by a member of the armed forces in defence of a functional state, is still a vile, filthy business, and I'm frankly disgusted at how many people still talk of it as if it were an honourable thing, something to be proud of or, perhaps even worse, those who treat it utterly casually, as if it were of no importance at all. Killing sometimes needs to be done, regrettably often in some areas, and those who take the responsibility to make such a justified but morally questionable action deserve respect for having the strength to carry out the lesser of two unavoidable evils, but evil it remains. Parades, rallies, celebrations and the like remain inappropriate ways to treat killers (or potential killers, for those who have yet to make use of lethal force but are prepared to do so) and the tools of that particular trade; what's worse, by presenting powerful weapons only as glorious, wonderful things that make society better, we give those who would use them a dangerously one-sided perspective, and perhaps thus a tendency to do so more often than strictly necessary, rather than as the last, regrettable resort that it should be.
Needless to say, while I basically approve of the rights conferred by the Second Amendment, I'm seriously worried by what looks to me, from this description, to be a shallow, posturing, cavalier attitude by Mr Pagano and his flock. A raffle for a gun, for fuck's sake?
As for the religious bit, well, I think anyone even vaguely familiar with the alleged teachings of Jesus would have a few pressing questions for those of his followers with a habit of carrying lethal weapons.
