March 18, 2025: The recent announcement by JobsOhio that defense contractor Anduril plans to build a massive weapons factory in the village of Lockbourne, appalls us. As we see it, the autonomous weapons system to be developed aims to dominate, terrorize, and kill – supposedly with minimal physical and financial risk. State leaders have fully welcomed this industry, opening arms and treasury and fully expecting Ohioans to follow suit with our hearts.
However, we offer these queries for reflection:
- How does this technology lift us up?
- How can we give large subsidies and a permanent place in our home state so casually, even gladly, when this means that our current and future family, friends, and children must walk this dark path?
- Do we anticipate a day when this application of technology will be used preemptively or reactively on us by adversaries?
- If we don’t give more careful thought to these things, what does that say about us?
We call upon our community to oppose short sighted state leadership’s willingness to invest in death while marketing this move as good for jobs, patriotism, and defense. We issue an open invitation for all who seek to live in peaceful coexistence to rely instead on the power of integrity, reason, resistance, and love.
North Columbus Friends Meeting (Quakers) 