Back to the nukes: it is probably safe to say that developments of the ICBM rockets to use them have helped along the rockets we use to lift communication satellites which allow us all to meet here from around the world; to see effects of deforestation and pollution; to learn and study what does affect our climate both from this planet and the sun’s radiations; to save lives predicting severe weather such as where typhoons and hurricanes might go; to aid in safe navigation of ships and planes with their cargoes and passengers. And those handy little GPS gadgets.

First = Last
Last = First
Death = Life

Every weapon is neutral.

They can be used by either those who esteem the laws of God and man or by those who tell God where he can stick it and have even less regard for the laws of man.

And those who do value the laws of God need equal weapons to defend themselves from those who essentially have given God the finger.

(now, there’s a whole ‘nother discussion about the out-of-control arms race, which is largely driven by politicians and industry, with a platter of ethnocentrism on the side)

It is a given that there are people who are committed to doing evil in the sight of God. People who uphold the laws of God and man, even whether they believe in God or not, have a right to be able to protect their lives which God has given them and has said it is sin to take away.

And, no I’m not a bible-thumping right winger as might be inferred from my sayings here – actually I _really_ irritate my father in law who is, and is convinced I’m going to burn!

Let me say this about that, I went to architecture college at Virginia Tech, (almost 30 years ago now) my stepdaughter lives in Omaha and shops at that mall, I was really wishing there had been someone there on scene who could have stopped the predators before they murdered so many people who had zero hope of protecting themselves from a person deep in sin.

The unbelievable hopelessness the victims must have felt knowing they were defenseless is beyond imagination.
It is cruel beyond definition to force people to be defenseless against predators.

And, remember, predators throughout the natural world prefer, and seek out, the victims who are least likely to do in the predator. It’s easier. The greater potential the prey has to take out the predator, the more the predator leaves that prey alone.

It has been reported that the Department of Justice estimates two million crimes a year simply do not happen after the intended victim reveals the capacity to defend himself or herself; and, in the interest of self-preservation the predator then goes away.

It had happened to my paternal grandfather one night stopped at a traffic light. And he only gave the illusion – laid end of rubber hose on window sill, the carjacker drew a conclusion and left. Would my grandfather have lived till the light changed otherwise?

I’m gonna say bluntly, do not be confusing a tool with the will and acts of its user.
A lot of people make that mistake.

Only people can sin, objects can not. People bent on sinning will use whatever tool is at hand to do so. And they at that point will not care whether any law says they can have that tool or not. they have chosen to sin and they will sin, whatever it takes.

And at this moment, I hear the Life Flight helicopter landing at the hospital across the street.
Is it carrying a defenseless victim of someone’s sin?

What’s neutral about blowing someone’s head off?