My journalistic scope has its limits. There are more books offered than I can read or care to review. More story ideas are tossed my way than I have time to explore.
Likewise, the daily “interview opportunities” promoted by publicists are wide-ranging and more numerous than I can conduct.
This week, at risk of failing in my duty to keep church leaders well informed, I passed on the chance to interview “terrorist-shooter” Charl van Wyk, author of Shooting Back.
During a deadly terrorist attack on St. James Church in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1993, van Wyk used an automatic weapon to fight back. On tour in the U.S. this fall, he is urging churchgoers to arm themselves as well.
According to his publicist, van Wyk “makes a case for individuals arming themselves with guns and does so more persuasively than perhaps any other author because he found himself in a church attacked by terrorists.”
Tragically, this looks more like someone making a buck off of another tragedy than providing helpful information. However, I’m sure the more NRA-oriented church folk will have great interest in hearing van Wyk.
Perhaps he will begin with the biblical text where Jesus said to plug those who persecute you.
Church safety measures are one thing. This is a ridiculous other.
And just think, all my parents used to ask before heading out to church was: “Do you have your Bible?”

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