To Keep or Not to Keep: Why Christians Should Not Give Up Their Guns (review)

The New American ^ | 12 August, 2013 | Joe Wolverton, II J.D.

[marktwain]

Christians not only have the right to keep and bear arms, but they have the obligation to do so in the defense of freedom. This is the powerful and provocative thesis of a new book by Tim Baldwin and his father, Chuck Baldwin.

In their book, To Keep or Not to Keep, the Baldwins — Tim is a Second Amendment scholar and attorney, while Chuck is a minister and former Constitution Party presidential candidate — argue that “Christians should not give up their guns.” They back up their claim with logic and scripture, a rare combination even among gun-rights advocates.

The authors warn readers:

Gun opponents have been highly successful in disarming the citizenry of other nations. So the threat to America is real, not just theoretical. If something does not seriously change in the attitude of Americans, our future looks similar to those who have lost meaningful and free gun possession. Unfortunately, this kind of self-defense-rejecting philosophy is becoming prevalent in America. But only one philosophy will ultimately prevail. The philosophy that succeeds will determine between two very different futures.

The Baldwins draw a clear and critical distinction between simple gun possession and meaningful, divinely-dictated gun possession.

It likely sounds strange in the ears of many Americans that God has commanded his children to own weapons and to wield them in defense of liberty. To Keep or Not to Keep presents an overwhelming cache of compelling evidence that this is indeed the case.

There are, of course, those believers that cling to the notion that government licensing of the right to keep and bear arms is reasonable and that the Constitution should be interpreted accordingly.

[marktwain]

This seems a worthwhile subject.

[BenLurkin]

Something about selling your cloak....

[Springfield Reformer]

Ping for reference

[reed13k]

for future purchase

[Secret Agent Man]

protecting the innocent from criminals - govt or otherwise - is a good and godly duty. protecting people from all unjust persecution, especially when govt’s’doing it - is good and godly to do.

[Yosemitest]

The United States Citizens KNOW that they're going to have to fight TYRANTS in their own government.
You cannot protect life, without the ability to take life.

While you are WAITING for the police to respond, someone could be losing their life.
All people of a responsible age should be armed.

As EternalVigilance reminded us:

The Second Amendment IS Pro-Life.

"Among the natural rights of the Colonists are these:
First, a right to life;
Secondly, to liberty;
Thirdly, to property;
together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can.
These are evident branches of, rather than deductions from, the duty of self-preservation,
commonly called the first law of nature...
In short, it is the greatest absurdity to suppose it in the power of one, or any number of men, at the entering into society,
to renounce their essential natural rights, or the means of preserving those rights;
when the grand end of civil government, from the very nature of its institution,
is for the support, protection, and defence of those very rights;
the principal of which, as is before observed, are Life, Liberty, and Property.
If men, through fear, fraud, or mistake, should in terms renounce or give up any essential natural right,
the eternal law of reason and the grand end of society would absolutely vacate such renunciation.
The right to freedom being the gift of God Almighty,
it is not in the power of man to alienate this gift
and voluntarily become a slave."




-- Samuel Adams, The Rights of the Colonists

Click here to read the 12 page pamphlet.

Let us NEVER FORGET THAT !

Let's subjugate them to OUR end game, DUST!
"COMPROMISE" is a DIRTY word!
People who study the Bible know that COMPROMISE almost always leads to destruction.


It's time to mock the "Gun Control" Zombies!
"Gun Control" is a firm grip, steady breathing, accurate aim (developed by lots of practice), and a slow trigger pull.


The Swiss have got it CORRECT !
We need to learn from the Swiss and implement their "gun control measures" here in the United States right now, today!
These laws are the ones we should shove into the "2nd Amendment Haters" faces.

" Today, military service for Swiss males is universal. At about age 20, every Swiss male goes through 118 consecutive days of recruit training in the Rekrutenschule. ...

Even before required training begins, young men and women may take optional courses with the Swiss army's M57 assault rifle.
They keep that gun at home for three months and receive six half-day training sessions.

From age 21 to 32, a Swiss man serves as a "frontline" troop in the Auszug, and devotes three weeks a year (in eight of the 12 years) to continued training.
From age 33 to 42, he serves in the Landwehr (like America's National Guard); every few years, he reports for two-week training periods.
Finally, from ages 43, to 50, he serves in the Landsturm; in this period, he only spends 13 days total in "home guard courses."

Over a soldier's career he also spends scattered days on mandatory equipment inspections and required target practice.
Thus, in a 30-year mandatory military career, a Swiss man only spends about one year in direct military service.
Following discharge from the regular army, men serve on reserve status until age 50 (55 for officers).

By the Federal Constitution of 1874, military servicemen are given their first equipment, clothing and arms.
After the first training period, conscripts must keep gun, ammunition and equipment an ihrem Wohnort ("in their homes") until the end of their term of service.

Today, enlisted men are issued M57 AUTOMATIC assault rifles and officers are given pistol.
Each reservist is issued 24 rounds of ammunition in sealed packs for emergency use.
(Contrary to Handgun Control's claim that "all ammunition must be accounted for," the emergency ammunition is the only ammo that requires accounting.)

After discharge from service, the man is given a bolt rifle free from registration or obligation.
Starting in the 1994, the government will GIVE ex-reservists assault rifles. Officers carry pistols rather than rifles and are given their pistols the end of their service.

When the government adopts a new infantry rifle, it sells the old ones to the public.

Reservists are encouraged to buy MILITARY ammunition
(7.5 and 5.6mm-5.56 mm in other countries-for rifles and 9 and 7.65 mm Luger for pistols)
which is sold AT COST by the government, for target practice .
Non-military ammunition for long-gun hunting and .22 Long Rifle (LR) ammo are not subsidised, but are subiect to NO sales controls.
Non-military non-hunting ammunition more powerful than .22 LR (such as .38 Spl.) is registered at the time of sale.

Swiss military ammo must be registered IF bought at a private store, BUT NEED NOT BE REGISTERED IF bought at a range.
The nation's 3,000 shooting ranges sell the overwhelming majority of ammunition.
Technically, ammunition bought at the range must be used at the range, but the rule is barely known and almost never obeyed.

The army SELLS a variety of machine guns, submachine guns, anti-tank weapons, anti-aircraft guns, howitzers and cannons.
Purchasers of these weapons require an EASILY OBTAINED cantonal license, and the weapons are registered.
In a nation of six million people, there are at least two million guns, including 600,000 FULLY AUTOMATIC assault rifles, half a million pistols, and numerous machine guns.
Virtually every home has a gun.

Besides SUBSIDIZED military surplus, the Swiss can buy other firearms easily too.
While long guns require NO special purchase procedures, handguns are sold only to those with a Waffenerwerbsschien (purchase certificate) issued by a cantonal authority.
A certificate is issued to every applicant over 18 who is not a criminal or mentally infirm.

There are NO restrictions on the carrying of long guns.
About half the cantons have strict permit procedures for carrying handguns, and the other half have NO rules at all.
There is NO discernible difference in the crime rate between the cantons as a result of the different policies.

Thanks to a lawsuit brought by the Swiss gun lobby, semi-automatic rifles require NO PURCHASE PERMIT and are NOT registered by the government.
Thus, the ONLY long guns registered by the government are FULL AUTOMATICS."

The Swiss have got it CORRECT !
Let's adopt THEIR LAWS !

Remember:

The beauty of the Second Amendment is
that it will not be needed
until they TRY to take it.

Read Second Amendment: It’s Not About Hunting, IT'S ABOUT TYRANNY .

[Pollster1]

Something about selling your cloak....

That is the verse, and it means exactly what it says. It counsels arming ourselves but also moderation - reminiscent of Ecclesiastes. Jesus was not just the modern hippie image of love and non-judgmental forgiveness, he also gave the command you referenced and cleaned out the temple rather forcefully.

[Noumenon]

The gun confiscators are monsters. There is only one way to stop them.

[Springfield Reformer]

Really wish I had a laser sight.

[jimsin]

‘THOSE WHO BEAT THEIR SWORDS into plowshears will soon be the SLAVES of those who DID NOT beat their swords into plowshears...’simple as that folk...you’d think even the most dead headed lib would get that...

[bunkerhill7]

“...and discipline of the Militia of our said Province [NH]; and for the arraying and mustering the inhabitants thereof; and instructing them on how to bear and use their arms.”
“The Military history of the State of New Hampshire”, p8

“...towns should provide a stock of powder, bullets and flints and arms for its poor,...”
“The Military history of the State of New Hampshire”, p39

“Anticipating attacks, the people went to their labors, in field and wood, not only armed, but with guards, “ 1744 “The Military history of the State of New Hampshire”, p58

---

“History of Ipswich”, Mass.
1637 march 9-”...no person is allowed to travel alone, above one mile from his house, except where houses are near together, without arms.”
‘History of Ipswich, Essex, and Hamilton’ By Joseph Barlow Felt, p143

“1644 Besides the country alarum [sic] there shall be one for each town; a musket shall be discharged on alaram, to all centinals [sic], who shall answer by going to all the houses and crying Arm! arm!”
‘History of Ipswich, Essex, and Hamilton’ By Joseph Barlow Felt, p143

“1645 -Youth from ten to sixteen years are to be
exercised with small guns, half-pikes, bows and arrows.”
‘History of Ipswich, Essex, and Hamilton’ By Joseph Barlow Felt, p141

1648 -”In every company some under-officer shall be
appointed by the captain “to exercise such children...”
‘History of Ipswich, Essex, and Hamilton’ By Joseph Barlow Felt, p141

[DuncanWaring]

Because it’s suicide and suicide is a grave sin.

[DuncanWaring]

When the Cambrian measures were forming, They promised perpetual peace.
They swore, if we gave them our weapons, that the wars of the tribes would cease.
But when we disarmed They sold us and delivered us bound to our foe,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "Stick to the Devil you know."

[caww]

Jesus commanded his disciples to purchase a sword and encouraged his disciples to have swords. See Luke 22:36-38:

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 GARMET AND BY ONE.

For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.” .....So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.”

Later, Peter, a disciple of Jesus, cut off Malchus’ ear with one of the swords.

In response, Jesus rebuked of Peter for doing so (John 18:10-11). This rebuke occurred after Jesus instructed His disciples to buy swords. Jesus did not rebuke Peter for having a sword for defense of self or others. Rather, the rebuke came because Peter was trying to stop Jesus from going to the cross, which God had ordained. “So Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?’” (John 18:11).

n Nehemiah 4:14-18,.. the LORD ‘approved’ use of weapons to protect the workers who were rebuilding of the wall”

“Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and ‘with the other held a weapon’. ‘Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built…” (Nehemiah 4:17-18).

[JZoback]

Sort of confused.... Why is the question even being asked....to keep or not to keep arms is like asking to breath or not to breath ...

[Yosemitest]

Give them hot lead
in the head....

[Yosemitest]

The trouble with laser sights ... is ... it reveals your sniper position.

[stevio]

I pray God gives me the wisdom to know when to fight. But can someone lead me to the scripture on this?

3. Do Not Resist Evil. The authors refute this particular argument, saying that during his mortal ministry, Jesus taught “when killing is without cause, it is unlawful, but when killing is with just cause, it is lawful.”

[Vision Thing]

Matthew 5:39.

[Yosemitest]

Have you not read Judges 8 ?
Have you not read Judges 18 ?
Have you not read 2 Kings 10 ?
Have you not read Jeremiah 21 ?