"Shooting Back: The Right and Duty of Self-Defense" – A Review

[dmoney]

Originally Posted by Powerman

God gave me a brain and he gave me the choice to use it. Never in my wildest dreams would I expect him to be disapointed in me by taking a life to save mine. Yet then again, Christ did not take a life to save his. Very interesting.

That was God's purpose, which was to teach and die for our sins. Even though he didn't want to suffer he did it anyway because He didn't want to see us parish. I think that is an extreme statement because there is a deeper reason behind it. I agree with sloopy70 and Jeff XD.

[Powerman]

Originally Posted by dmoney

That was God's purpose, which was to teach and die for our sins. Even though he didn't want to suffer he did it anyway because He didn't want to see us parish. I think that is an extreme statement because there is a deeper reason behind it. I agree with sloopy70 and Jeff XD.

No, really, I understand. I wasn't trying to make a judgment, or change the reason as to why Christ died. I'm not saying that is what others should do, but others could use Christ's example to make their own desision. I just thought this was an interesting subject that was raised. I don't mean to be disrespectful, or to start a debate.

If a person has nothing contradicting self-preservation, they have no problem with shooting some one to protect them selves. If one believes their moral code contradicts that, then that is quite a delima. And not an intellectual one either. Every living thing has an instinct for self preservation. If your beliefs say you should not take another life in order to save yours or others, that would be quite an internal battle "not" to do that.

[Jeff XD]

Originally Posted by Powerman

If a person has nothing contradicting self-preservation, they have no problem with shooting some one to protect them selves. If one believes their moral code contradicts that, then that is quite a delima. And not an intellectual one either. Every living thing has an instinct for self preservation. If your beliefs say you should not take another life in order to save yours or others, that would be quite an internal battle "not" to do that.

I definitely agree with the instinct for self preservation. If you get someone mad enough and then hit them, 99% of people will swing back. If they don't take the time to think about it.
Using a gun on someone else takes thought. You must go get/buy the gun, know how to use it, and most importantly pull the trigger. Those are three big requirements to get by. I hope I never have to find out about the 3rd.

[Ishpeck]

The way I see it is this: If all Christians are killed, how does Christianity perpetuate? Christians have a duty to preserve their lives so they can spread the Good Word to all the world. If the circumstance is such that dying would spread the gospel better, then do that instead.

[eric_t12]

Originally Posted by sloopy70

God expects us to do things for ourselves.... anybody feel what I mean???

I will be the first to say i'm not religious, yet slightly spiritual, however. I believe in something more powerful than all of us, what that may be, yet undetermined, but i think there is PROBABLY something there....

what this means - i dont think any of us has the power to prevent negatives, or create positives in our lives except by our own choice. Without physical force i can cause no person to do anything they do not want to do themselves - this includes heinous violence to acts of supreme benevolence.

Its all your choice.

When you disarm the public you effectively take away their choice of self-defense or pacifism. those who choose violence will act however they see fit, but without the ability to protect myself from whatever reasonable force i come under attack with, i cannot 'choose' to defend myself (at least to a point where its worth trying. its like taking mace can - or for that matter, a phone to call the police - to a gunfight. sure i have a choice, but is it much of one?)

not to mention its a RIGHT protected in the constitution to keep arms. but that is a different story for a different thread.

my .02

[DanTheEldest]

Sounds like a good read. I've never really felt a conflict between my faith and use of deadly force when absolutely necessary, but I'm curious all the same. Thanks for posting.

[Tard]

When my liberal friends call me paranoid for having guns, I ask them if it's paranoid to have fire extinguishers, flash lights and first aid kits in the house, too.

No kidding, they don't have any of these things!
They actually say "Call 911".

When I pointed out the localized system failures during actual emergencies (when you are most likely to really need to protect yourself), they denied it happens!

I compiled a short list of very recent times the system literally would not pick up the phone on the other end of 911, they denied it was true. They were unaware the police were disarming people in New Orleans and LA.

I actually told them to not come to my house if this happened, I wouldn't be able to protect and feed them all. They laughed in my face.

[th1npower]

Originally Posted by Ishpeck

If all Christians are killed, how does Christianity perpetuate? Christians have a duty to preserve their lives so they can spread the Good Word to all the world.

wow, so the world's 6+ billion people should be christian... a bit short sighted given the innumberable belief systems & personalities.


that said, i do believe in defending one's family & life, along w/ every innocent individual.. b/c i love, value my life & feel my existence is more benefitial to the world, along w/ the aforementioned others, than the bad guy, criminal perpetuating violence & harm.

[Caribou]

Originally Posted by th1npower

wow, so the world's 6+ billion people should be christian... a bit short sighted given the innumberable belief systems & personalities.

I think his point was that God would want His people to be alive to share His message, not that Christians need to be alive to FORCE people to convert. We are told just to preach the message to "all the world", and leave the converting up to each person who hears.

At any rate, I just read another article that supports the self-defense position: http://www.davekopel.org/2A/Mags/oprelign.htm

It's pretty good.