Opinion about weapons?

[AlNg]

To make peace does not require one to be a a pacifist.

As mentioned above there is also Matthew 5: 38, 39, 40.

 

[Rau]

Would you feel differently if someone were to burst into your home and threaten to shoot you, your spouse, your children, or worse yet, start immediately shooting at you/them? Do you realistically believe you would be able to talk them out of it?

Perhaps it’s the different societies in which we live - but such an event is unthinkable in my world - meaning I judge the probability to be vanishingly small of this happening to me. Now were I a crime boss or a gang leader or whatever, I might indeed fear the event you describe and take precautions.

 

[mythbuster1]

Most of the time, brandishing is enough to get the attacker to surrender or flee, but if you have to resort to firing the gun, you do so knowing you will likely kill the attacker, because attempting a non-fatal shot likely won’t neutralize the threat. Yes, if you do put him on the ground wounded, you are morally and legally obligated to call an ambulance, but there’s no guarantee that they will be able to save his life.

 

[mythbuster1]

Sometimes making peace requires neutralizing aggressors. Only by force is it possible to get certain evil men to listen to reason, and such men are a threat not only to bodies but also to souls, for they scandalize others and interfere with the spread of the Gospel. Conversely, souls have been saved because Christians were willing to fight in appropriate circumstances, producing signs and wonders that converted many enemies. As Scripture says, there is a time to kill and a time to heal.

 

[mythbuster1]

It varies by State, but generally, breaking and entering an occupied building creates a presumption of hostility: you are allowed to assume that the intruder intends to commit rape, kidnapping and/or murder until proven otherwise.

 

[AlNg]

Sometimes making peace requires neutralizing aggressors.

So you don’t believe in turning the other cheek?

 

[Eric_Hyom]

Obviously, you have never been faced with a life-threatening situation involving a weapon. Otherwise, you would understand how the real world works.

I was threatened by a few lads, one of them had a knife against my throat. I have intervened in numerous drunken and violent fights. i have asked two people to hand me their knife.

At the age of 71, I still go out with the Street Pastor teams until 3 - 4 am on a Saturday morning for the last twelve years… We have no protective clothing, we don’t do self defence, we carry no weapons. I am always amazed that none of us have been hurt.

The only way to be a peace maker is to be in the middle of conflict. We pray, we trust in God and go.

 

[mythbuster1]

I don’t believe in turning somebody else’s cheek for them. Allowing someone else to suffer because you think yourself too righteous to use force to defend them is hypocrisy.

 

[JanR]

Any tool used to harm nature and humankind is an abomination.

What about the tools they may use on YOU? Are you to just stand there and allow someone to slash you to pieces or fill you full of lead – and do nothing about it, even when you can?

Come on, Folks. Get real!

 

[AlNg]

What about the tools they may use on YOU? Are you to just stand there and allow someone to slash you to pieces or fill you full of lead – and do nothing about it,

You can do something as mentioned in the gospels. You are supposed to turn the other cheek, No? Matthew 5: 38, 39, 40.

 

[JanR]

Suicide is a sin.

 

[RuthAnne]

Are there no laws about this in the US?

I don’t know of any and I wouldn’t care anyway.

 

[Anrakyr]

Suicide is a sin.

Depends on the mental state of the person.

 

[Sarcelle]

Watch out for the zombies.

 

[JanR]

Okay, I’m through, here. Some of you are so closed minded and refusing to acknowledge basic common sense, that there’s no further use in trying to reason with you.

Those who founded our nation on Judeo/Christian principles STILL recognized the rights of citizens to defend their lives, families and property. They so well recognized this fundamental right that they wrote it into our Constitution, and placed it second only to freedom of speech, press, religion and peaceful assembly.

The right to defend oneself against violent confrontation and situations of imminent danger has nothing to do with turning the other cheek. To allow someone to maim or kill you simply because you want to distort the meaning of a line in scripture is tantamount to committing suicide, if they succeed in murdering you.

But, some of you are just too stubborn to admit to the value and necessity of this precious right that you have, and you seem perfectly okay with nobody else being allowed to have it, either.

I’m done with you folks! There’s just no reaching some people.

 

[Rau]

Those who founded our nation on Judeo/Christian principles STILL recognized the rights of citizens to defend their lives, families and property. They so well recognized this fundamental right that they wrote it into our Constitution, and placed it second only to freedom of speech, press, religion and peaceful assembly.

I’m not sure of the direct link from Judeo/Christian principles through to the public policy and societal acceptance of a well -armed community in our current place and time. The right to Self-defence - to take action to stop an actual threat - is universally supported and not questioned. But what we may do in anticipation of future possible threats is a matter of judgement - by weighing up pros and cons. That’s the applicable catholic theology. And we may come to different, good faith conclusions.

What is closed minded, IMHO, is to hold that because the Constitution (written quite a while ago) says something, it is above review or questioning.

 

[EssentialBeing]

There are 2 sides to this question & both seem to be valid & both have pros & cons.
(1) Self defense with lethal force
(2) Self defense with non lethal force
It is never short sighted to explore both options & to participate in a debate that helps us all understand both sides a little better.

 

[Montrose]

So you don’t believe in turning the other cheek?

If someone is in your home threatening the life of you and your family you are entitled to use minimum force required (might be lethal) to remove that threat. If you think turning the other cheek means standing by and letting an intruder injure or kill your kids you are sadly mistaken. That is not the interpretation of turning the other cheek.

 

[AlNg]

That is not the interpretation of turning the other cheek.

What is the interpretation?
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[a] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.

 

[Montrose]

What is the interpretation?
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[a] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person . If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.

Jesus is not telling us to stand by and let someone kill our children. He is telling us not to take revenge on anyone who wrongs us. Self defence and defence of family is not revenge.