Gun group offers no-brainer way to prevent violence in houses of worship

In the wake of the devastating events that unfolded in Charleston Wednesday night, the rest of the world is shocked that such a monstrous act could occur in this day and age, and questioning the U.S.'s profound love and respect for the Second Amendment.

President Obama weighed in Thursday, blaming the terror that unfolded at an African-American church's Bible study and claimed the lives of nine churchgoers on the fact that it's so easy for Americans to build small arsenals packed with our metal, Constitutionally-sanctioned friends.

“At some point, we as a country will have to reckon with the fact that this type of mass violence does not happen in other advanced countries,” Obama said, according to The New York Times, implying that a conversation on tightening restrictions on gun ownership maybe oughtta start soon-ish.

Hogwash, says one gun rights group.

The group, called 2AO (Second Amendment Org), has called, instead, for guns in churches.

"In the wake of the tragic events of Charleston, South Carolina, 2AO is asking for Americans to rise up and protect our nation’s churches through responsible gun training and ownership," the group said in a press release.

Yeah, Obama. A gun in every church. Why didn't you think of that? It's not like there's any indication the shooter was a known white supremacist and was motivated by the desire to start a race war, and probably not by hatred of Christians or anything.

The DC-based group, which says it has 160,000 members in 26 states, condemns the actions of Dylann Roof, the accused shooter, who has confessed and has been charged on nine counts of murder. But it also posits that limiting gun ownership would make every non-gun-wielding churchgoer vulnerable to the actions of any gun-wielding maniac who walks in off the street.

“I’m deeply saddened by this loss of life in South Carolina and I pray for all those affected,” said Bryan Crosswhite, the organization's president, in a post. “But this isn’t a time for churches and Americans to give up their guns and hope that nothing will happen. This is a time to exercise our 2nd Amendment Right to protect ourselves, our families, and our religious communities.”

Some say the massacre could have been prevented if everyone had been carrying a gun in their belt.

One NRA board member in Texas even blamed the pastor, Clementa Pinckney, who was also a State Senator, because he voted against a bill allowing concealed carry in South Carolina, reports The Washington Post.

This article appears in Jun 18-24, 2015.