That’s the point I am troubled with. What’s the difference between a late-term abortionist and a madman gunning down kids in a kindergarten? Not much, in my view.
I don’t know if Roeder thought he was avenging the death of those children or if he was acting, with full knowledge and acceptance of the consequences - both temporal and spiritual - to protect the lives of other children.
One of the most significant differences between Christianity and Islam is, in my view, that Christians do not believe that evil actions are excused if they are performed in God’s name. Christians do not rape, murder, plunder, pillage and burn in the name of Christ. (Not recently, anyhow. I have heard stories about the crusades.)
However, I can see a situation where a Christian might say to himself, “This evil must not stand, even if it results in my death at the hand of the state and eternal damnation at the hands of the Lord.”
I am not saying I believe this is the case here. But I am also not ruling it out.
It is now between him and G_d. We can, and should punish him on Earth. The Lord will have the last word. This one is definitely above my pay grade.