Maybe it would save lives and maybe it wouldn't but which right is more important, your right to life or your right to defend your life?

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"I fully comprehended the power of the human mind at the exact moment I came to the realization that I'm totally insane and have no idea what I'm talking about."

I would think they are intertwined. What is the point of having life if it can just be taken away. Everyone should have a right to defend themself if they so choose.

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metta,
Fr. B.

So Jesus should have killed all who killing him? Was Jesus a Zealot? Did he give them his support? What about his statements about being as harmless as doves, turning the other cheek, and not living by the sword?

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"The further the spiritual evolution of mankind advances, the more certain it seems to me that the path to genuine religiosity does not lie through the fear of life, and the fear of death, and blind faith, but through striving after rational knowledge."-- Einstein

"So Jesus should have killed all who killing him? Was Jesus a Zealot? Did he give them his support? What about his statements about being as harmless as doves, turning the other cheek, and not living by the sword?"

I don't know, i cannot speak for the historical Jesus. The biblical Jesus said many things that were later taken out of context by men. So who knows?

But.. The assumption you make is that what Jesus 'said' is a factor here. There are more than just Christians in the world obviously. I believe what I said was: "Everyone should have a right to defend themselves if they so choose."

If you don't want to then don't... but your decision to choose not to defend yourself shouldn't keep others from having that freedom.

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metta,
Fr. B.

"...But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a sack; and he who has no "SWORD", let him sell his garment and buy one" (Luke 22:36)

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"I fully comprehended the power of the human mind at the exact moment I came to the realization that I'm totally insane and have no idea what I'm talking about."

I actually didn't take a position one way or another, but merely pointed out that there are certain verses that seemingly indicate that Jesus was not in favor of the use of deadly violence.

Also, I was not dealing with what non-Christians may or may not do, nor what governments that respesent religious diversity may or may not do, so how does what you posted above relate?

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"The further the spiritual evolution of mankind advances, the more certain it seems to me that the path to genuine religiosity does not lie through the fear of life, and the fear of death, and blind faith, but through striving after rational knowledge."-- Einstein

We have to define what a "sword" means in the culture and time-period that Jesus lived in. Most men carried a "sword" with them on a regular basis when leaving home and for a couple of reasons. One indeed is for protection, but another is for utilitarian purposes.

When you picture a "sword" as used there and then, do not picture a sword as the English or the Japanese would sometimes carry, but picture a fairly long knife typically between 1 and 2 foot in length. These were fairly easy to carry in one's belt. How do we know this? Archaeology.

When we see this "sword" being used as a weapon, which was in the Garden, notice what Jesus' response was. Did he say "Stab the sucker!" or anything like that? No. Instead we see his response was to say that those who live by the sword will die by it, and then he heals the man who's ear has been severed. He heals him! He doesn't order him to be killed, nor does he appear to ask God to kill him.

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"The further the spiritual evolution of mankind advances, the more certain it seems to me that the path to genuine religiosity does not lie through the fear of life, and the fear of death, and blind faith, but through striving after rational knowledge."-- Einstein

Anyone can pull whatever they want from a religious context into this discussion. The fact is, however, that gun control is a governmental/social issue and not a religious one, per se.

Again I state one of the situations that people don't bring up because the comparison is rarly even made.

Average citizens get their CPR training so they can help out in an emergency and save a life if the paramedics are not able to be on the scene fast enough...

just as...

Average citizens can get a firearm to help out in an emergency and save a life by defending it on the defendees behalf if the police are not able to be on the scene fast enough

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metta,
Fr. B.

"...But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a sack; and he who has no "BUTTERKNIFE", let him sell his garment and buy one" (Luke 22:36)

What does it sound like his goal is here?

"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword." (Matthew 10:34)

A)Jesus came to send peace.
B)Jesus came to send war.
C)Jesus came to send silverware.

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"I fully comprehended the power of the human mind at the exact moment I came to the realization that I'm totally insane and have no idea what I'm talking about."

I heard about this guy that tried to sue the police because they failed to defend him. The Supreme Court ruled that it isn't the police's responsibility to defend people. The responsibility of the police is to arrest people AFTER a crime has been committed. It is the people's responsibility to defend themselves. So, if you fail to defend yourself then it is your fault. Also, the power that the government has was given to it by the people. If people don't have the right to bear arms then we couldn't of gave the government the privilege to bear them for us. In other words, we pay the government to use OUR guns. So, if our guns must be taken away then so does the government's.

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"I fully comprehended the power of the human mind at the exact moment I came to the realization that I'm totally insane and have no idea what I'm talking about."