The Associated Press reported that a restaurant worker was stabbed to death in a fight. The two men “began arguing about how much spice to add to the restaurant’s gumbo.” Obviously the mix of spices and knives is a problem. One or the other should be banned so as to stop any further occurrences. While a similar mix of spice and knives may never lead to a stabbing death again, we can’t be sure.

The problem, of course, is the person doing the stabbing, not the knife, or the baseball bat or an ax or poison or automobiles, or explosives, or hands, fists, feet, or pushing. A person intent on killing someone will use whatever is available to accomplish the task. Knives are used in more murders than you might think:

“The FBI statistics show that knives have been used as a murder weapon far more often than rifles — even those evil ‘assault weapons’ we hear so much about — for quite a while. In 2013, knives or other cutting instruments were used to kill 1,490 victims. In contrast, rifles were the cause of death of 285 murder victims. Shotguns were used in 308 murders. In 2009, the ratio was very similar: knives were used in five times as many murders as rifles.”

 Restricting these instruments will not ultimately solve the problem of murder which has a long history going back to the “foundation of the world” (Luke 11:50-51) where there were no firearms (Gen. 4:8; also see Matt. 23:35; Jude 11). The problem is the heart of man where murder arises (Matt. 5:21-22; Matt. 15:19-20; 1 John 3:12-15).

Did you know that Tunisia is nearly a gun-free country? “The estimated rate of private gun ownership (both licit and illicit) in Tunisia is 0.1 firearms per 100 people.” Given the arguments by the anti-self-defense crowd, it should be the safest nation in the world.

On June 26, one man murdered 38 people and wounded at least 39 others.

“Revising earlier reports that two attackers were involved, authorities are now saying only one man was responsible for killing dozens of tourists and wounding dozens more at a Tunisian beach resort. Reportedly armed with a Kalashnikov initially concealed with an umbrella, it took an after-the-fact armed security team response to stop the killer from adding to his unarmed victim count . . .

“This is the second attack on tourists in Tunisia this year. In March, an attack at the National Museum killed at least 22 people, all but one of them tourists, showing that those interested in committing politically-motivated murders have discovered a new vulnerability to the Tunisian economy — one that exploits a government-imposed handicap on the populace.”

The gunman knew he would not meet with resistance because the population is nearly defenseless by law. “[A]s far as world rankings go, ‘In a comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 178 countries, Tunisia ranked at No. 178.’” Tunisia is a soft target for anyone who wants to use violence to promote either a personal or political cause.

Criminals don’t care about anti-gun laws, registration of firearms, or laws against concealed or open carry. If their intent is to murder someone, which in itself is a crime, what makes anybody think that they will follow restrictive gun laws?