men did violence to one another, simply the choice of weapon changed, as it does to this day. and those without a weapon, as today, are nearly as defenseless as those in gun free zones. So because men have always been violent to each other, and despite Jesus Christ’s admonitions to avoid violence and promote meekness, you believe that the Christian way is something akin to “Rambo”? "Be ye heavily armed and take out anyone that threatens ye?" "Enter thee into public places on guard and with an itchy trigger finger?" It doesn’t get that dire even in the Old Testament. And since the choice of weapons is changing, should all "strong men and women" start carrying tasers? Or perhaps just portable nuclear weapons?

Despite your over dramatization above, I would suggest having a weapon handy, your mall or public meeting place could be next. Incidentally, I don't think Jesus said law abiding citizens couldn't protect themselves. The Lady took out a man who had already, sneak attacked, two teenage girls and wounded others. I would be pleased to perform the same service in behalf of my fellow citizens. ~~~ you seem to have forgotten the portion of your lessons where the scripture teaches: The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, knowledge, understanding and leads to the salvation of the soul. Chapter/verse please. That’s not one I can find, so I’m guessing it’s a paraphrase. I can find the first phrase up to the word 'wisdom', originating in the Old Testament and being repeated throughout, but the rest is a mystery to the search engines that I use.

Hereyago PK...

2Ch 19:7 Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.

2Ch 19:9 And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.

Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Ps 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

Ps 34:11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Ps 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Pr 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Pr 1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

Pr 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

Pr 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Pr 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Pr 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

Pr 14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

Pr 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

Pr 15:16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

Pr 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

Pr 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

Pr 19:23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

Pr 22:4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

Pr 23:17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.

Isa 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

Isa 11:3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

Isa 33:6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.

Ac 9:31* Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

definitions: Lord: 03068 hwhy Y@hovah yeh-ho-vaw'

from 01961; TWOT - 484a; n pr dei

KJV - LORD 6510, GOD 4, JEHOVAH 4, variant 1; 6519

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God 1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of 0136

fear: 03374 hary yir'ah yir-aw'

from 03373; TWOT - 907b; n f

KJV - fear 41, exceedingly + 01419 2, dreadful 1, fearfulness 1; 45

1) fear, terror, fearing 1a) fear, terror 1b) awesome or terrifying thing (object causing fear) 1c) fear (of God), respect, reverence, piety 1d) revered

~~~ them's just the facts, if someone is intimidated by God's word, I figure it's a step in the right direction for their soul. Rather than being filled with god’s word, or enlightened by god’s word. Yes, let’s be afraid, fear is good. Intimidation worked so well for the Church. At least it gave us the Enlightenment and the Reformation, not to mention the Renaissance. Jesus was about filling the soul, not frightening it.

I refer you to God's word above as that is his advise. ~~~ You’re an animal lover, yes? Are you more successful training an animal using fear and intimidation tactics, or using positive reinforcement? Same goes for the spirit, I think. Always has with me anyway. Just because I'm an atheist doesn't mean I'm not spiritual.....

What I have discovered with the critters I have is that most of em don't want anything to do with you except at feeding time. There are exceptions, but on the whole. Most animals are not like dogs, as far as I can determine. Although the goats I've been looking at are doglike in their friendliness -pet me/rub me up and I'm told they will follow you around.

what one does with it is not my purview, as my function is dissemination, Uhhhhhh….I’ve just got to leave that one alone.

Still disseminating per your request. ~~~ the remainder being between the individual and the Almighty It's all between the individual and whatever takes the shape of his/her almighty.

Absolutely.

~~~ peaceably If there’s a gun in your hand, your belt, your car, or your closet, it’s not peaceably.

Says you. I say peace through strength. So does history. The simple fact is I'd rather live in a gun toting society. Unlike one man with a club, one man with a gun can tame a mob. [Hey David, would you have wandered out in that alley to help the homeless guy with a stick or knife? Talk some sense into your fans. It's a tool.] I bet Frankenstein would have felt safer with a gun. States that have liberal conceal carry laws, have less gun violence. Gun Free Zones are nothing but an invitation to a drugged out nut job who's been playing to many violent video games. Check the record, look into the background of the Columbines. And while you're at it check out that GWB whereabouts during the Omaha mall shooting. Perhaps you'll also discover what agency visited that very mall earlier in the morning about increasing security.

Finally, defending oneself is not an evil idea, nor anti spiritual, nor anti scriptural it's just a unpalatable idea to gun fearing folks.

You ever been attacked by dogs. Do you have any knowledge of the increase in wolf attacks in areas where they've been reintroduced in recent years(& having no reason to fear men, they're protected, even if they come up and grab your dog while you're walking it- we have an Alaska member herein who might verify that? I assure, a gun is the self defense tool of choice. I have been attacked by dogs. Thankfully it was in a setting where people heard the ruckus came to my aid. Pretty scary stuff when they just appear from nowhere nipping, growling and barking while circling. But like two legged animals, they're afraid of loud noises that draw blood.

peaceably ps PK, at present I do not own a gun, but it's apparent it's time to get a couple as the cops tend to stand back and let these shootings run their course rather than intervening pronto.