Killing in self defence or to protect others and Capital Punishment

[Calgar]

you must retreat if safe retreat is possible

Perhaps in your area, but that is not the case in many areas.

“You don’t stop evil by retreating from it.”

 

[Brendan]

I would follow by example. Priests are the perfect role models for examples. Priests don’t carry guns in the first place.{/quote]

There is also the example of St. Gabriel Possenti, who, as a seminarian, used two pistols to defend his town.

gunsaint.com/history.asp

You can’t forget Jesus either. He said not to resist evil and to turn the other cheek.

You can use self defense to protect yourself or you can become a martyr for Christ and his teaching.

Christ was the one who guided the stone from David’s sling into Goliath. I will trust in God as David did if I ever need to fire a lead slug into someone’s forehead.

Christ was the one who strengthed Samson to kill all those Phillistines. I will trust in God to strenghten my aim when I too am defending myself or others.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

I would follow by example. Priests are the perfect role models for examples. Priests don’t carry guns in the first place.

You don’t need weapons to fight or to even kill. You cite priests but I can name one or two saints who are often portrayed brandishing swords and spears.

 

[pnewton]

Perhaps in your area, but that is not the case in many areas.

“You don’t stop evil by retreating from it.”

In a civilized society you also do not stop evil by taking the law in your own hand. I would be very surprised if there were anywhere in the U.S. where self-defense can be used by the aggressor. The retreat exception is so that we may know which party was* really* the “evil” one. Most fights that rise to the level of killing build to that level.

Don’t foget, all have sinned. There is evil in us all. There is some good in all.

 

[Ender]

I was on the site Yahoo Answers and there are many questions asking “why do Christians support capital punishment?” and “why do Christians support the 2nd amendment?”

What does the Church say about capital punishment?

Is it a sin to shoot somebody who breaks into your home for self defence or to protect your family?

*“It is lawful to kill when fighting in a just war; when carrying out by order of the Supreme Authority a sentence of death in punishment of a crime; and, finally, in cases of necessary and lawful defense of one’s own life against an unjust aggressor.” *(Catechism of Pius X, 1905)

Ender

 

[Calgar]

I would be very surprised if there were anywhere in the U.S. where self-defense can be used by the aggressor.

Texas. While not really self-defense you can use deadly force to protect property.

Also, it’s not taking the law into your own hands if it’s legal.

 

[Calgar]

Priests don’t carry guns in the first place.

You can’t forget Jesus either. He said not to resist evil and to turn the other cheek.

Some priests do carry guns, so you’re wrong there.

As to the turning the other cheek? Cherry picking a verse out of context isn’t going to fool anyone.

 

[pnewton]

Texas. While not really self-defense you can use deadly force to protect property.

Also, it’s not taking the law into your own hands if it’s legal.

Yes, I know. If you go back to the earlier post, I said that one’s own property is the exception. There is no obligation to retreat on your own property, inside or outside of your house.

 

[pnewton]

Some priests do carry guns, so you’re wrong there.

As to the turning the other cheek? Cherry picking a verse out of context isn’t going to fool anyone.

One can not really turn the other cheek in a deadly force situation. Not only is the verse out of context, is is totally inapplicable. One can not turn the other life.

 

[matt1985]

I believe you have a right, and moral obligation to shoot a person who breaks in to your house and runs at you with a chainsaw.

As for the death penalty, I have come to the view as of now that it should be available for those who kill more than 5 people. This way, people like Bundy, Manson and Gacy receive it, and those who can’t afford expensive lawyers aren’t unfairly executed.

 

[SeanF1989]

I believe you have a right, and moral obligation to shoot a person who breaks in to your house and runs at you with a chainsaw.

As for the death penalty, I have come to the view as of now that it should be available for those who kill more than 5 people. This way, people like Bundy, Manson and Gacy receive it, and those who can’t afford expensive lawyers aren’t unfairly executed.

What if they are coming at you with no weapon, say for example walking up the stairs or if someone is following you home and approaching your house?

 

[Calgar]

What if they are coming at you with no weapon, say for example walking up the stairs or if someone is following you home and approaching your house?

In many states (in the U.S.) you must believe that you (or an innocent person) is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death.

Now, the situation you just described would not warrant deadly force. Would you really want to shoot someone who comes up to your house? So long mailman!

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

What if they are coming at you with no weapon, say for example walking up the stairs or if someone is following you home and approaching your house?

From a tactical and practical standpoint, that actually makes them less of a threat. Unless that person is some kind of ninja, you probably get enough advantage by just chucking what’s nearest to you.

 

[reclaimed]

We can only use minimum force necessary to stop the threat. Unfortunately, that could mean lethal force. I’d like to try and retreat first. Obviously I don’t want to have to deal with killing someone, from a moral and legal aspect, no matter how necessary such an action was.

 

[fbl9]

We can only use minimum force necessary to stop the threat. Unfortunately, that could mean lethal force. I’d like to try and retreat first. Obviously I don’t want to have to deal with killing someone, from a moral and legal aspect, no matter how necessary such an action was.

Yes use only the minimum force required.
to my knowledge retreat even in your own house is law in canada, deadly force only if the threat pursues.

Now say you are threated for the reason of being a christian, this is when the words of Christ come into play.