Texas Panhandle Church Hosting Concealed Carry Class

From the Amarillo Globe-News:

Calvary Baptist Church in Dumas will host a concealed handgun license class March 2, and although a house of worship is an unconventional locale for a class on how to safely use and carry firearms, the Rev. Brad Foster looks at it as a community service opportunity for the church.

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Reverend Foster says his church likes to “think outside the box.”

“However, we’re not making a political statement, except we don’t mind being associated with being in support of the Second Amendment.”

Jim Edlin, Sunday school director at Calvary and an organizer of the class, said more than half the people who have enrolled in the class have been women.

“Some of them are teachers, and they’re more passionate about it than anyone else.”

Reverend Foster says this is one of those areas “where politics and the Bible intersect.”

Some ignorami — undoubtedly worshipers at the Imbasilica of St. Marx — commented that “Jesus was a man of peace and love.” But Jesus preached reasonable self-defense. I’m not familiar with some of the modern perversions of the Bible, so maybe the St. Marx version deleted Luke 22:35-39:

And He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?” So they said, “Nothing.” [36] Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.”

Constitutional scholar David B. Kopel published an excellent read on the Old Testament and self-defense. Relying primarily on the King James Version, Kopel cited numerous biblically-supported acts of self-defense and defense of others. Kopel published another paper discussing how six major eastern religions — Confucianism, Taoism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, and Buddhism — also support self-defense.

Kopel noted the falsehood of claiming Mohanda Ghandi was a proponent of non-violence. Ghandi understood the need for self-defense as a tool to reduce violence in society: “I do believe that where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advice violence.”

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“Non-violence cannot be taught to a person who fears to die and has no power of resistance…[A] man who, when faced by danger, behaves like a mouse, is rightly called a coward. He harbors violence and hatred in his heart and would kill his enemy if he could without being hurt himself. He is a stranger to non-violence.”

Cain asked: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” But he already knew he held the wrong answer in his heart.

Those who justify laziness and cowardice by misinterpreting scripture — and not partake of their God-given right of self-defense — not only betray God’s will, but in truth promote increased violence. Remember, self-defense is not violence, but negative violence in that successful self-defense removes predators from society, and cows them into greater restraint from fear of choosing a victim who will successfully repel attacks.

God’s will for us is to be free, and to help others attain freedom. Self-defense is a key part of His plan.

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