Exodus 22:2-3 tells us "If the thief is found breaking
in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his
bloodshed. If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt for his bloodshed.
He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for
his theft."
One conclusion which can be drawn from this is that a threat
to our life is to be met with lethal force. After the sun has risen seems to
refer to a different judgment than the one permitted at night. At night it is
more difficult to discern whether the intruder is a thief or a murderer.
Furthermore, the nighttime makes it more difficult to defend oneself and to
avoid killing the thief at the same time. During the daytime, it better be
clear that one's life was in danger, otherwise, defense becomes vengeance, and
that belongs in the hand of the magistrate.
Larry Pratt, "What Does the Bible Say About Gun Control?," Gun Owners of America (Springfield, VA: August 1, 1999). Retrieved July 9, 2014 from http://gunowners.org/fs9902.htm.
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