TexasCHLforum.com

TAM wrote:

Reverend, you actually raise an interesting question, one which a Christian must answer for him/herself when considering CHL. I have answered it for myself, based in part on Luke 22:36. But CHL carries a tremendous moral responsibility, and that responsibility is both inward looking in regard to our own sober appraisal of whether or not we are willing to use a firearm in self defense, and outward looking in regard to not shooting people who don't need shooting. So I understand your thinking regarding the idea of a warning shot. You feel as if your conscience requires giving the bad guy one last chance.

The problem with this is that his decision is already made, and at any range at which a warning shot might be effective (without placing yourself at further risk), it is arguable that any kind of shooting, blank round or live round, may not be legally justifiable. It's a touchy thing.

So for what it is worth, I have decided that if God wants me alive, there is nothing that I or anyone else can do that can kill me. And if God is ready to call me home, then equally there is nothing that I or anyone else can do that will keep me here. I also accept that God may send an earthly or spiritual angel to intercede on my behalf in extremis. However, I also recognize that God may call on me to be the agent of my own deliverance in extremis, or to be the agent of deliverance for my family and other loved ones. Thus, I carry a gun so as to be prepared for that call. And in so far as it is within my capability to get home safely to my family, then I will do what it takes, including the use of lethal force to ensure that result.

If my use of lethal force leads to the death of an attacker, I have made the rationalization to myself (yes, it IS a rationalization, but I believe an eminently moral one) that his/her death was caused by his decision to attack me, not by my decision to defend myself. Thus, I am not bound to fire a warning shot. My producing a pistol in the first place is all the warning the assailant deserves. If he procedes, the responsibility for the outcome is on him, not me.

I hope this makes sense to you.