Firearms Facts and Fancy--Introduction

By way of introduction, I’m 54 years old, married with one child, been shooting guns since I was 16. I served in the Army at 19 and qualfied Sharpshooter with the M16 rifle. I started reloading my own ammunition when I was 22. Since then, I’ve owned over 100 different rifles, shotguns, and handguns, and I’ve been carrying a concealed handgun regularly since 1994, when Texas signed into law a “shall-issue” concealed carry permit (explained in a subsequent discussion), based on a thorough background check, required classes, and demonstrated proficiency with a handgun. As such, I’ve formulated a lot of “expinions” (experience =>opinions) concerning the pros and cons of many different gun types and calibers, and feel at least moderately qualified to issue advice on the selection, care, and deployment of firearms for serious social use.

In a recent post, BIG THINKER discussed his reasons for believing we are approaching the “End Times” from a Biblical perspective. I agree with his assessments of the signs that point to this fulfillment of prophecy. Consequently, my motive for developing a series of articles on firearm ownership and use is to give gun-inexperienced (or gun-apprehensive) readers an overview of these totally passive instruments that may well save their life or that of loved ones if social conditions continue to deteriorate toward “Apocalyptitude.”

I firmly believe that all Christians are charged with the grave responsibility of acting in self defense to protect innocent life, even if it means taking the life of an evil aggressor. It is an inescapable fact that, in general, for one life to continue, another life must necessarily end. All creatures must consume once-living plants or animals every day to stay alive. A sacrifice of the lesser to sustain the greater. As such, the taking of a human life in justifiable self defense differs only in degree, not in kind.

In upcoming articles, I plan to cover the selection of a firearm type for home defense (handgun, rifle, or shotgun), the selection of a handgun type for personal defense (revolver or semi-auto), the selection of a caliber within these two applications, the care of guns in general, practicing with your gun (quite fun), methods of carrying a concealed handgun, methods of storing a gun in a home with and without children, and the mental, spiritual and legal ramifications of actually using a gun in self defense.

Since I became a born-again Christian, I’ve struggled with the many passages in the Bible that are seemingly in contradiction concerning admonishments to be meek and humble while turning the other cheek, then being strong and athletic while wearing your sword and the full armor of God in preparation for spiritual and earthly battle. As in all such conundrums, the truth is somewhere in the middle, and I firmly believe we must prepare for any eventuality by “speaking softly and carrying a big stick.”

Here is a good site dedicated to the Christian gun owner: http://www.christiangunowner.com/index.html