spencer rifle
Grandmaster
After looking over the Arming the Family thread and re-reading "Lights Out," I have some of the same concerns I've always had. Some of the tools I have are designed for the destruction of other people. When used as intended they will result in the death of one made in God's image. On a smaller scale, same as carrying a defensive firearm and encountering violence on the street or at the mall. But TEOTWAWKI will be organized violence on both sides.
Sure, they may be using their free will to harm those I love and am responsible for. But I am getting to be of the age and faith that I could consider just dying and avoiding having to make the decision. The kids have all grown up and moved away. No grandkids. SWMBO doesn't want to live in the world after SHTF, despite her considerable skills and abilities. How much responsibility do I have to the rest of what would remain of society to use my "fire extinguisher, but for criminals" to reduce evil in the world? Might be as Gandalf said. "Yet it is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule."
The best result would be that politicians and circumstances never force me into a position to have to make that choice or pull that trigger. The next best result might be like scaring off a mugger by pulling a defensive firearm. Though that doesn't prevent them from continuing their evil somewhere else on someone else made in God's image. Or returning with more like them at their backs.
Apparently I have to resign myself to the fact the trigger might have to be pulled and someone fellow human might have to die, and to prepare accordingly. I'm not big into guilt (that's SWMBO's department). But it makes me angry that fools and narcissists and demons in human form might force me (and you) into such a conundrum.
Sure, they may be using their free will to harm those I love and am responsible for. But I am getting to be of the age and faith that I could consider just dying and avoiding having to make the decision. The kids have all grown up and moved away. No grandkids. SWMBO doesn't want to live in the world after SHTF, despite her considerable skills and abilities. How much responsibility do I have to the rest of what would remain of society to use my "fire extinguisher, but for criminals" to reduce evil in the world? Might be as Gandalf said. "Yet it is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule."
The best result would be that politicians and circumstances never force me into a position to have to make that choice or pull that trigger. The next best result might be like scaring off a mugger by pulling a defensive firearm. Though that doesn't prevent them from continuing their evil somewhere else on someone else made in God's image. Or returning with more like them at their backs.
Apparently I have to resign myself to the fact the trigger might have to be pulled and someone fellow human might have to die, and to prepare accordingly. I'm not big into guilt (that's SWMBO's department). But it makes me angry that fools and narcissists and demons in human form might force me (and you) into such a conundrum.