Tennessee Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey (R) posted a status update on Facebook last week about how he thinks Christians should buy guns to show how serious they are about their faith.

“I would encourage my fellow Christians who are serious about their faith to think about getting a handgun carry permit,” he wrote in response to the Oregon shooting. “I have always believed that it is better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have it.”

Ramsey is pumping the GOP fear-machine handle hard.

gunchristian

For more on this story, visit Talking Points MemoTennessee GOPer: ‘Christians Who Are Serious’ Should Be Armed”

Farron Cousins is the executive editor of The Trial Lawyer magazine and a contributing writer at DeSmogBlog.com. He is the co-host / guest host for Ring of Fire Radio. His writings have appeared on Alternet, Truthout, and The Huffington Post. Farron received his bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of West Florida in 2005 and became a member of American MENSA in 2009. Follow him on Twitter @farronbalanced