The National Rifle Association says, "If Jesus Christ had an assault rifle or even a sidearm like a Glock, he would be alive today, an American, and a modern day carpenter."
This statement was swiftly attacked by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and religious leaders, including Pope Francis who issued a rebuttal from the Vatican. The Pope said the NRA's statements were "historically inaccurate and specifically that the Jews in biblical times did not have access to firearms."
ADL national director Herbert Leslie said, "Even if Jesus had a sidearm, such as a semiautomatic pistol, he would have run out of bullets quickly. The immense amount of javelins, arrows, rocks, or swords available to the Romans in this era would certainly enforce the totalitarian power of the Roman state."
James W. "Jim" Porter, an attorney and also president of The National Rifle Association (NRA), said, "Jesus certainly had his Second Amendment constitutional right to be armed and he did not require the need for a background check."