Jacob Hochstetler and Guns.
Another week, another school shooting. Last week it was at a community college in Oregon, today at colleges in Arizona and Texas. What followed is predictable. The President condemns the shootings and calls for action on gun control. Candidates hoping to replace the President respond arguing gun ownership is protected by the Second Amendment rights, that “gun’s don’t kill people, people kill people,” and if guns were banned only criminals would have guns. Gun free zones are said to make everyone unsafe while at least two candidates suggest it might be time to arm teachers.
Comments on Twitter condemned the shootings and the NRA, while others, decried any gun control, lest an oppressive government somehow impose their will on its citizens. My “friends” on Facebook shared similar sentiments. Those who posted about the shootings were equally split. Appalled at the violence some posted stats showing the danger of guns. Those who like their guns posted images of their favorite guns, voiced their support for guns, and argued what we really need is a “change of heart,” or to “get back to God.” A week later the pro-gun memes continue though concerns about mental illness crept into the picture. Statistical data is used to back arguments, but for the most part it seems, facts don’t matter.
What I find interesting in the midst of this are the stories people tell. Many of my high school students are descendants of Jacob Hochstetler, an Amish immigrant who settled in Berks County, PA in the 1730’s. Many of these same students like guns. I’m also a descendant and grew up hearing the story of Hochstetler's deadly encounter with a group of Indians. In 1757, during the French and Indian War, the family was attacked by several Indians. The story goes that the family took shelter in their home. The sons reached for their guns sure they could drive off the Indians but their father forced them to put the guns down because of his religious beliefs. Eventually, Hochstetler’s wife, daughter and one son were killed, while Jacob and two sons were taken hostage.
Today there is a genealogy/historical site on the internet devoted to tracking Hochstetler and his descendants. A couple of novels based on the incident were published in the last year, and I can always count on hearing the story again in my American History class. In the stories I heard as a child, Hochstetler’s actions were characterized as driven by faith and his desire to follow the teachings of Jesus, even the hard ones about turning your cheek and not killing.
What if instead, Hochstetler had grabbed his gun, allowed his sons to fire theirs and driven off, or even killed the Indians? Would his multitude of descendants remember his story or anything about him? Would his resistance be remembered as faithful or would it be seen in a much different light. I am curious what meaning people, especially his descendants take from Hochstetler’s story. Was he faithful? Foolish? Naive? Why does his story continue to be told? What kind of example does he provide? In the midst of our violent society, could we, like Hochstetler, put down our guns?
mlmiller 10/9/2015
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