Bishops for gun control undercut by ‘Catholic NRA’

Before the U.S. Senate failed April 17 to gain enough backing to pass a gun control bill, Catholic bishops joined other religious leaders in pushing for reform via e-mail blasts and Senate Judiciary Committee testimony.

But among the Catholic faithful, not everyone supports stronger gun control measures. John M. Snyder, a lifelong Catholic and former seminarian, is one. Snyder isn’t thrilled to be opposing the bishops, but he sees little choice. An outspoken gun rights activist for decades—once the chief Washington lobbyist for the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms—he doesn’t see any discord between his faith and his activism.

“Advocating for the rights of people to defend themselves with the appropriate weapons is part and parcel of my Catholicism,” said Snyder. “I do feel a great loyalty to the church and the bishops and it pains me to see them behaving so foolishly.”