Dear Valued Friends and Peers,

      Recently, on a very well respected Conservative Christian law enforcement email list that I am subscribed to (which will remain anonymous), the subject of gun control and weapons confiscation by the government was addressed.  Obviously it is still a very controversial subject and one that is at the fore in law enforcement and private gun owners' minds.  What was interesting was the unfortunate lack of Biblical understanding of the concepts of self defense and gun ownership by a number of people involved.  Very few had a scriptural basis for the justification of self defense and gun ownership—or lack thereof.

       I have included in this document a few of the more notable comments made during the discussion.  A few attempted to make the Biblical case; they are to be commended.  Most were wrought with emotionalism, personal bias, a lot of "ABUSIVE ARGUMENTUM AD HOMINEM" and plain mushy-headed thinking.  Note well that also there were a few comments from overseas law enforcers, specifically Australia, which has mandated full weapons confiscation in recent past.  Their responses speak for themselves.  These writers will remain anonymous, to protect their privacy.  The mind sets of the American Christian law enforcement community, as contrasted against their overseas peers, is also intriguing and worth noting.

      Finally, at the end, I have included the final response from an associate of mine, Tom Pardue, Sr.  Lt.Col. US ARMY (retired), whose aid I enlisted in this debate.  One Aussie female officer inferred that the American Christian community was holding unBiblical positions, in sin concerning the issue, and challenged us "to put up or shut up."  I was totally amazed not only that this individual would model such a complete lack of sense and propriety to purport to know more than the Christian founding fathers of the American nation, but completely fail to support her claims and accusations!  Mr. Pardue's response to the challenge was conclusive, irrefutable, Biblically based, and quickly ended the debate on the subject. You may not agree with Mr. Pardue. You may not agree with the other writers. You may not agree with anything laid out here. But, as Jesus once said, "He that is able to receive it, let him receive it."

       But the American Christian community has definitely "put up."

       The debate started out with this innocent question by a Christian law enforcer on 29 May 2000:

Hey everyone! I've got a question for you:

Do you think the current trends toward "gun control" are really efforts to make way for a one-world government, as foreseen in Revelation? I don't want to turn this into a political debate, I'm just interested in reading what other Christian cops have to say about this issue. Personally, I DO feel that the "real" agenda is to make way for a one-world government. Be safe and wear your vest.

31 May 2000:

Hats off to "Deputy *!" Sounds like he has it nailed down ...

My only son - a law enforcement officer trying to help someone he thought was in an accident - was killed by a stolen weapon ... not one that was registered. Bad guys don't register ... or purchase ... their terror tools.

Don't let the "bad guys and guns" syndrome infect the good American people's rights.

Like one officer said - he believed in "gun control" - "have a steady hand... take good aim ... squeeze without shaking ...!"

31 May 2000:

I have no reason to love guns, my favorite cousin committed suicide with a shotgun, a brother in law was murdered with a handgun. On the other hand, I can name five instances right off the top of my head where innocent people have been saved by the use of a firearm in a defensive situation.

Folks, guns are nothing but a tool. I have never known of a firearm to jump up off a counter and shoot someone. The fact that gun control is debated so much is stubbornness on the part of all involved to stand by their opinion. I have been involved in law enforcement for over 22 years and the one thing I have come to realize is that the most logical step in gun control is education. I believe that anyone who buys a firearm should have to go through a class to learn the safe use of this article. I don' t care how many guns you own, I don't care how much you have shot. Our dpt. has a safety segment included in each qualification course. As we work with or around a weapon we can become complacent. Safety is number one in the use of a firearm.

31 May 2000

Taking guns away from honest citizens is not the solution to our crime problem. People have been violent and murderous since the beginning of time (remember Cain and Abel?). Guns are not the problem, people are. The Bible tells us that the heart of man is exceedingly wicked and will be the cause of all manner of evil, whether or not guns are around. Our job in America should not be to strip honest citizens of their firearms, but rather to fulfill the Great Commission and let God change their wicked hearts. If Christians spent half as much time trying to convert the lost as they do bickering over constitutional rights (or the lack thereof) we wouldn't need to have a national debate on firearms, or any other type of weapon for that matter.

In Him,

31 May 2000

Matthew 4:5-7 Then the devil took Him (Jesus) into the holy city; and he stood Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God throw Yourself down; for it is written, 'He will give His angels charge concerning You; and on their hands they will bear You up, lest You strike Your foot against a stone.'" Jesus said to him, "On the other hand, it is written, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'"

God gave us a brain, and common sense, we should use both. Whether it be locking our doors, wearing a seatbelt, wearing a bullet proof vest or making use of any of the other things mankind has developed to make our world safer; we should make use of these things, and not tempt the Lord.

Bottom line: I do believe that my God is big enough to protect me until my purpose here on earth is complete. I also believe that I should not tempt the Lord by ignoring tools that are available to make my life safer.

31 May 2000

In response to comment from "Mike" (that's me) and others, I forward this, just received from/forwarded by a Honolulu PD officer and a closing comment.

BEGIN QUOTE:

Subj: AUSTRALIA GUN CONTROL... BIG FAILURE

It has now been 12 months since gun owners in Australia were forced to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed, a program costing the government more than $500 million dollars. And now the results are in:

Australia-wide, homicides are up 3.2 percent;

Australia-wide, assaults are up 8.6 percent;

Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent).

In the state of Victoria, homicides with firearms are up 300 percent.

Figures over the previous 25 years showed a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms (but increased drastically in the past 12 months). There has been a dramatic increase in break-ins and assaults of the elderly. Australian politicians are on the spot and at a loss to explain how no improvement in "safety" has been served after such monumental effort and expense was successfully expended in "ridding society of guns."

Bet you won't see this data on the evening news or hear your governor or members of the state Assembly disseminating this information.

It's time to state it plainly: Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws only affect the law-abiding citizens. Take note, Californians and other Americans, before it's too late!

END QUOTE

What are links between religion (the Bible) and firearms?

For one - only the individual will guarantee his liberty. I agree the anti-God socialists are also anti-individual, and therefore anti-individual rights. I firmly believe socialists exploit permissiveness to demonstrate that the public at large is too irresponsible to possess firearms. ("If you won't demonstrate internal discipline, we will provide external discipline.") Policemen who are interested in the security of the individual (his brother) must therefore have an interest in the individual being self-disciplined enough to be responsible with (among other deadly things) firearms.

Why? Against a civilized "foe" such as Britain or the U.S. of the 1960s, the peaceful resistance tactics of Gandhi or M.L King Jr. may function - but against a Hitler or Stalin or Pol Pot or Idi Amin ... or a W. J. Clinton & his ilk, only raw power will hold such socio-paths at bay. Such men recognize and respect only raw power.

We cannot say we are our brother's keeper, or that we love him as Christ would, and at the same time be inactive to our brother's self-destruction through irresponsible lives (read life-styles) or his destroying our mutual home (the U.S.A.) through destroying the foundations of that home (our civil rights).

The evidence is clear, tyrants and despots must disarm those who they are to oppress. From the article above, it is also clear that those who cannot protect themselves will be left unprotected.

We cannot allow that.

31 May 2000 (From Canada)

The original question was asked in reference to world government and the issue gun control played in it. An opinion was sought and it was quickly responded to but, as with all passionate issues, we have gone into a classic Judge Ito sidebar.

I too live in a country with ever increasing gun control laws. (Australia is not alone) Will these laws stop the criminal in the gang from getting hold of a gun. In the words of my dear aunt "not bloody likely!" But government must respond in some fashion to the ever increasing 'spectacular' violence and this type of response is a quick fix the visible public likes to see. I say visible because if you go into northern Ontario (the less visible and vocal population) you will find that much of the population owns guns and hunts, and they are not shooting each other up. I agree with the registration of guns and making access to them harder and making their possession lawful for only specific sporting purposes. I also agree with making criminals pay through work programs instead allowing them to sit in very modern hotels, er.. I mean prisons, working if they want, and getting a free University education. (that's another sidebar here in Canada...)

One point brought up has taken the context of a particular time related in the Bible and disregards other very important episodes. The Lord Jesus Christ did not use violence to make His point. He came to us as a man who lived as a Jew in that time. He was schooled in and taught the scriptures of the Old Testament. Some here have offered the suggestion that trust in the Lord (making reference to the New Testament passages) is all that is needed and the keeping of a gun is not trusting in the Lord. I trust the same God who sent David out to kill. I trust the same God who sent the people led by His prophet Moses into the land of milk and honey and to take that land as their inheritance. Let's face it folks, some people got killed by the weapons of the time. Were they wrong to have those weapons? Were they not trusting in God? I don't think so.

Missionaries, very Godly people who trusted in God, have been killed while on their missions. They prayed to God and their human lives were not spared. The argument that trust in God and prayer will keep you safe from attack must mean then that the dead missionaries did not pray or trust hard enough. That of course is ludicrous. Weapons are tools used for good or evil, it is all in the hands of the man, the sinner. (I think I first heard that in the movie Shane, but I digress)

What is the answer? We each have and answer and it is the right one to us. What is left is perspective. What works in Australia may not work in the US, the mindset is different (and yes I have been to both countries). What works in Canada doesn't necessarily work in the US but we are still very closely tied through politics and blood (my wife and I have American relatives). What does work for all of us jointly is faith in God and the knowledge that Jesus is our saviour and that the Spirit of God is with us at all times. That folks is Grace and we have been given it even though we do not deserve it.

God Bless to all.

Greetings Everyone,

I think we ALL need to remember that this is a prayer chain and we are an international organization and as such, we are going to hold different views on political issues and we should not divide over these. As American Christian policemen, we tend to be very patriotic and conservative. Our Aussie brothers and sisters don't necessarily share our views and that's okay. On issues where the scripture is silent, we are free unless the Spirit convicts us. For the record, there is a scripture reference for the bearing of arms. Its the very words of Jesus in Luke 22:36 where He says let the man who has no sword, go out and buy one. They obviously didn't have guns then, but the implication was obvious...the weapon was not evil, it was the man behind it that is evil. We must remember that Jesus was not a wimp, but laid down His life willingly for us. No one took it from Him. That took a lot of courage.

Also, from the U.S. perspective, we have seen no evidence of Spirit filled lives in the American politicians pushing for gun control (Bill Clinton, Al Gore and Charles Shumer) . I see self serving politicians that need Jesus Christ in their lives, but have no clue at this point.

Let's try and not make this stuff personal on the politics that don't matter, but focus on our common Redeemer where we do agree.

31 May 2000

Anonymous—

You said: "so nah, nah"

Very, very funny! ;-) LOL

My brother-in-law is from Australia. I'm going to share that with him! I'm sure we'll both get a kick out of it. I woke up this morning and turned on my computer to check my E-mail and I saw what you wrote to the group. Your last sentence there kind of brightened my day.

On another note, though, one of your sentences really struck a chord with me. It is one that I have rassled with for my whole Christian walk (17 years now): Since (not "if", mind you, but "since") the Lord loves me, why do I need to protect myself in any way? Do I tempt His will by not providing for my own safety? I was an electrician for 11 years. Should I have been wearing the safety equipment that would protect my life, or was that tempting God or a demonstration of my lack of faith in His word (lanyards, insulated gloves, safety glasses)?  Sometimes, when I worked on buildings in the wilderness for the forestry department, I carried a gun while installing the pipe and wire in the event that a rattle snake came upon me (which I used twice). Did that constitute a lapse in faith? Does not His word say "He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash you foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample under foot. Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation." Now I ask all of you out there: Is the above scripture true or not?

Re-read it carefully if you must.

When our valiant soldiers where using their guns to destroy the Nazi (I am purposely not using the word "German" here because it was not only Germans who made up the Nazi forces [there were other ethnicity's], and not all Germans were a part of the Nazi regime) forces that were trying to enslave the whole human race in W.W.II (whose sacrifice we just finished memorializing here in America)...was that a lack of faith on our part as a nation or as individuals? How about the good Christian people that we have known that have had horrendous felonies committed against them? Violent, fatal crimes? What about them? Where they fakers? Phonies who were only pretending to be Christians? We who are on this forum list have seen or heard of such things happening first hand. For us, it is not hearsay, but cold reality.

Has anyone come up with a good way to reconcile these issues? Put the guns aside for a moment and think about all the things that we do regularly on a daily basis to provide for our protection and for the lives of our families. Is it a demonstration of a lack of faith to do so?

I would really appreciate hearing from everyone about what they think (including you, Anonymous!) to see what is right. The reason is as follows: I am going to become a sworn police officer by the early December (Lord willing) and I will need to go buy a gun for off duty. Is it showing a lack of faith if I carry one? Will not the Lord protect me??!?

I eagerly await all of your replies.

This, one of the more caustic postings, from the female Austrailian Police officer:

Dear All,

It pains me to say this, but I think a lot of you ought to wake up to what being a Christian and walking with the Lord means. I am sorry but I can't think of any verse in the Bible where the Lord picked up a weapon to defend himself. In fact even in the Garden the night before he was crucified he heal a soldiers ear that was cut off by one of his disciples trying to defend him. To me this means that if you are NOT a law enforcement officer, dealing with Satanic and criminally insane people (which all murderers and felons are) you have no right as a Christian to "bear arms." Personally I believe if you think you have some right that differs from scripture then you need to be on your knees asking forgiveness and giving up your gun...

When you are at home and you think you need a gun to defend your home and family try calling upon the Lord for protection, or don't you trust him to keep your family safe. You would rather rely upon a gun that our God who can and would care for you if you asked. You have only to have the faith of a mustard seed to move a mountain, how much faith do you think you need to protect your home and family. Perhaps you have never asked?

I am fed up with hearing all the American excuses about the right to bear arms, it's rubbish. It may be in your constitution but its not the Lord Jesus's will for you.

So either put up or shut up about Guns, THEY KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE (so do knives but oh please!) and guess what, I still love you guys. and I would still stop a speeder doing 35 klms over the limit even if he were a cop, so there nah nah!

Love, Anonymous.

      After reading that little emotional, superficial, and insulting tirade, I sought the input of Mr. Pardue, Vice President of Americans For Constitutional Integrity:

Dear Mr. Pardue:

      I thought you might assist me on this, as I feel I can no longer remain my usual objective and restrained self. A few overseas Christian law enforcers have felt comfortable these last few days charging, not only me, but any others who have voiced their opinions, with being "unBiblical" as well as being in need of "repentance" because of our positions concerning private gun ownership as well as self-defense, etc. I might be able to tolerate the insults against the American Constitution, especially coming from another Christian (even though many, many Christians died for the freedom it represents to the world). Especially an overseas Christian. No use trying to describe the freedom the Lord has Providentially granted that we should live under to someone without the background to understand these principles. It's kind of like trying to describe the clouds and blue sky to a blind man. You end up doing injustice to the subject and it frustrates the blind man who will never see it.

       But being accused of sin is insulting, does injustice to the clear working of the Lord in people's lives, especially mine, slanders the Holy Spirit, and allows one of the main enemies of freedom—ignorance—to flourish. Yet, you are a teacher of men of the highest caliber.

       Mr. Pardue, your forebears were instrumental in the history of the American nation. Ms. Anonymous challenges the American Christian community below to "put up or shut up." I have attached your one article, posted on your site, concerning Biblical self-defense below the writer's original letter. I would ask that you would respond to this on my behalf, as well as the other accuser's letter sent to me and the President of the Inland Police Officers Coalition just recently, which I am forwarding you in private. True, Biblical Truth takes precedence over American history and traditions, but it's clear that a substantial amount of people in the Christian Church have simply given themselves over to emotionalism and empiricism without researching the subject from a Biblical perspective as you have.

      I will make sure your valued and eloquent response is forwarded to the proper channels and, as usual, your time and wisdom is deeply appreciated.

      My Deepest Respects and Regards, Mike ~
      God Protect the Protectors ~ God Bless the Cops

      For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the
      whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them
      whose heart is perfect toward Him. Be one of "them." ~ Salem

      "The Spiritual Realm is the Command Sphere...If evil could have
      won the day, it already would have, but since it didn't, it can't.
      This is merely a training universe for us and hurdles will come.
      However, consider it merely a chance in which to excel" ~ R.D. Conner

      Vice President ~ Inland Police Officers' Coalition
      [http://www.ipocministries.org/]

      Salem the Soldier's Homepage ~ COPS
      [http://www.salemthesoldier.us/Police_Support_03.html]

Mike,

I am pleased to assist you.

There is a really good article by Larry Pratt on the Chalcedon www site, "What Does the Bible Say about Gun Control?" http://web.archive.org/web/20010219100715/http://www.www.natreformassn.org/statesman/97/bibgunctrl.html

See the entire Chalcedon report on gun control at http://www.chalcedon.edu/report/2000feb/index.htm.

Keeping and bearing arms in not just a right, it is a duty as I have shown in the article you posted. It is just as much a duty as working for your bread. God has commanded us to preserve life. He has commanded us to love our neighbor. We don't love our neighbor if we don't anticipate the need to be prepared to protect him from one who intends to take his life unjustly. He has told us that if we love Him we will keep His commandments. These are propositions too plain to be contested. To further support this I cite the Westminster divines from the Westminster Confession of Faith and Westminster Larger Catechism, concise statements of Reformed doctrine first published in 1646 by Scottish and British Calvinists.

Chapter 1 Section 6 of the Westminster Confession of Faith asserts "The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit or traditions of men," cf. II Tim. 3:16-17; Gal. 1:8-9; II Thess. 2:2.

Consequently the WCF and Larger Catechism are an exercise in logical deduction.

Question 135.

What Are the Duties Required In the Sixth Commandment?

Answer: The duties required in the sixth commandment are, all careful studies, and lawful endeavors, to preserve the life of ourselves a and others b by resisting all thoughts and purposes,c subduing all passions,d and avoiding, all occasions,e temptations,f and practices, which tend to the unjust taking away the life of any;g by just defense thereof against violence,h . . .

a. Eph. 5:28–29.
b. 1 Ki. 18:4.
c. Jer. 26:15–16; Acts 23:12, 16–17, 21, 27.
d. Eph. 4:26–27.
e. 2 Sam. 2:22; Deut. 22:8.
f. Matt. 4:6–7; Prov. 1:10–11, 15–16.
g. 1 Sam. 24:12; 26:9–11; Gen. 37:21–22.
h. Ps. 82:4; Prov. 24:11–12; 1 Sam. 14:45.

Note well that it says "The duties required in the sixth commandment are, all careful studies, and lawful endeavors, to preserve the life of ourselves and others . . .by just defense thereof against violence. . . " Note also that this is not an exercise in Gnosticism, but of logical deduction from Scripture as can be seen from the proof texts. Several verses are combined to form a doctrinal statement..

Question 136.

What Are the Sins Forbidden In the Sixth Commandment?

Answer: The sins forbidden in the sixth commandment are, all taking away the life of ourselves,a or of others,b except in case of public justice,c lawful war,d or necessary defense;e the neglecting or withdrawing the lawful and necessary means of preservation of life . . ."

a. Acts 16:28.
b. Gen 9:6.
c. Numb. 35:31,33.
d. Jer. 48:10; Deut. 20.
e. Exod. 22:2–3.
f. Matt. 25:42–43; James 2:15–16; Eccl. 6:1–2.

Morton H. Smith, The Larger Catechism of the Westminster Standards, (Simpsonville, SC: Christian Classics Foundation) 1997.

Ms. Anonymous would unwittingly have men, not just Christians, violate the sixth commandment, then condemn them as sinners in need of repentance for not doing it. She is attempting to bind men's consciences without sufficient Scriptural support. This equivalent to some of the S. Baptists around here requiring people to pledge not to drink as a requirement for church membership.  If her conscience is bound that gun ownership is a sin, so be it, even though it isn't supported by Scripture, but she should not attempt to bind another's conscience. See Romans 14 for details of this sin.

The lady says that the account of Christ in the garden is an example for Christians, that is, Christ laid down a rule of general application. This is a logical fallacy, the naturalistic fallacy, as Hume described it "an ought from an is." Christ's actions in the garden could not possibly be a commandment to Christians to disarm for in LUK 22:36 He gave this command "And He said to them, 'But now, let him who has a purse take it along, likewise also a bag, and let him who has no sword sell his robe and buy one.'" Bear in mind it was serious for one in that era to give up his robe. The robe was necessary for survival. So much so that if one was taken as collateral for a loan it was to be returned at night, cf, Ex 22:26.

Her claim violates the law of contradiction, a principle necessary for any discourse. As Phillip Johnson describes it "[t]he law of contradiction means that two antithetical propositions cannot both be true at the same time and in the same sense. X cannot be non-X. A thing cannot be and not be simultaneously. And nothing that is true can be self-contradictory or inconsistent with any other truth."

Christ could not possibly command men to disarm and arm at the same time "for God is not {a God} of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints." 1CO 14:33

There is an explanation for Christ's actions in the garden. JOH 18:11 Jesus therefore said to Peter, "Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?"

LUK 24:27 And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

ACT 4:27 "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Thy holy servant Jesus, whom Thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,

ACT 4:28 to do whatever Thy hand and Thy purpose predestined to occur.

Christ was predestined before the foundation of the earth to die for the sins of His people. Peter, likewise, was predestined to attempt to thwart this, but Peter's will be thwarted and God's will be done or we perish in hell for eternity.

The lady asserts "To me this means that if you are NOT a law enforcement officer, dealing with Satanic and criminally insane people (which all murderers and felons are) you have no right as a Christian to "bear arms".

Then she must account for this: EXO 22:2 "If the thief is caught while breaking in, and is struck so that he dies, there will be no bloodguiltiness on his account.

It is not helpful to make the claim that this for the Jews only for "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2TI 3:16-17 When Paul gave this instruction there was no NT.

As I pointed out in the article I wrote for Contra Mundum, the model for a national military is the militia. This is the norm that God established for the ancient Hebrew constitutional republic. Large standing armies such as we have are not the norm. They are the tools of tyrants. The Hebrew militia was manned by individuals who brought their own weapons. See http://www.gunowners.org/op9804.htm

The lady says "[w]hen you are at home and you think you need a gun to defend your home and family try calling upon the Lord for protection, or don't you trust him to keep your family safe."

This is sophistry and unequivocally tempting God. God providentially provides the means to the end to keep one and one's family safe. If she believes this it necessarily follows that she should never lock her doors nor even close them. As a peace officer, she should not even carry a gun. God will provide the invisible Kevlar. By carrying this lady's principal to the logical conclusion she doesn't even need a home. In fact if she practices what she preaches, she should sell her home, quit her job and live in the bushes on Smith Creek. After all, God will provide.

God has promised to protect His people. He provides the means to this end. The means may be an opportunity to evade or it may be a Hillbilly with a big bore handgun loaded with 230 gr. Hydrashocks, even in church.

"It may be in your constitution but its not the Lord Jesus's will for you."

The Lord's will is found in His word. No where has he revealed to us that we should disarm while living in the land of the Philistines. You may find where He has revealed that weapons control is the practice of tyrants. 1SA 13:19 ¶ Now no blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, "Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears." 1SA 13:20 So all Israel went down to the Philistines, each to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, and his hoe.1SA 13:22 So it came about on the day of battle that neither sword nor spear was found in the hands of any of the people who {were} with Saul and Jonathan, but they were found with Saul and his son Jonathan.

BTW, the manner in which the lady answered the objection concerning knife control is not valid: "THEY KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE (so do knives but oh please!)." This reveals nothing more than a philosophical bias against guns and an unwillingness to account for the absurdity of the argument when carried to the logical conclusion.

I forgot about the most compelling passages in the Bible concerning self defense, Neh 4.

NEH 4:9 But we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night.
NEH 4:13 then I stationed {men} in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the exposed places, and I stationed the people in families with their swords, spears, and bows.
NEH 4:14 When I saw {their fear,} I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: "Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses."
NEH 4:15 ¶ And it happened when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had frustrated their plan, then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work.
NEH 4:16 And it came about from that day on, that half of my servants carried on the work while half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows, and the breastplates; and the captains {were} behind the whole house of Judah.
NEH 4:17 Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took {their} load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon.
NEH 4:18 As for the builders, each {wore} his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter {stood} near me.
NEH 4:20 "At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us."
NEH 4:21 ¶ So we carried on the work with half of them holding spears from dawn until the stars appeared.
NEH 4:22 At that time I also said to the people, "Let each man with his servant spend the night within Jerusalem so that they may be a guard for us by night and a laborer by day."
NEH 4:23 So neither I, my brothers, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us removed our clothes, each {took} his weapon {even to} the water.

Note that the Jews prayed for God's protection, then were encouraged to "remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses."

Mike, I hope this is helpful. There are many more objections to bearing arms. She (anonymous) hasn't presented them, so I won't deal with them, but they can and have been answered using Scripture alone. Pratt presents them and answers them.

Tom

And finally:

02 June 2000

Thanks for the link. That was one of the best written dissertations on the subject that I have ever read. It cleared up a lot of question in my mind...and from a scriptural basis, too.

---------------------------------

ForumModerator wrote:

> This article is worth reading.
> http://web.archive.org/web/20010219100715/http://www.www.natreformassn.org/statesman/97/bibgunctrl.html

        That was pretty much where it publicly ended. Since then, I have only received one or two catty comments from overseas LE people who, not able to challenge Mr. Pardue on his eloquent and conclusive commentary, have been reduced to immature name calling, even going so far as to call these things "drivel."  I suppose that is to be expected when people are thoroughly challenged on their biased and unBiblical beliefs, especially concerning the "politically incorrect" issue of gun control and self-defense.

        In the opinion of this writer, Mr. Pardue has, once again, prevailed in this forum.  The Lord, being faithful, always provides His people the answers to the most trying questions of our times.

        I am also very impressed by the Christian law enforcers who had the guts to state their cases in public, even though the issue is so provocative and intimidating.  I am also impressed by those who were not quick to sacrifice principle, truth, and integrity, to maintain a "politically correct" peace amongst their overseas peers.  America and her institutions are a rare and endangered thing.  Not defending them on the pretext of maintaining "unity" amongst those Christian people who don't even understand them is sheer folly.