Stand Your Ground or Duty to Retreat

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13. I am a Christian...

...and you're being overly simplistic. I mostly concur with the unofficial USMC Rules for Gun-fighting, #26 of which says, "Your number one Option for Personal Security is a lifelong commitment to avoidance, deterrence, and de-escalation." As I see it this concise and eloquent sentence is about the soundest advice I've encountered anywhere. The best tactic during an assault that I can imagine is having yourself and loved ones a half mile (or more) away from it.

Violence should never be planned as a first option to aggression. Regardless of beliefs, I don't think anyone will be better off having killed someone. While violence must always be the last option, it is still an option.

As Jesus said and Luke recorded, "...he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." (BTW, Luke was a physician.)

It's a sad thing that there are those who believe violence is a first option but hopefully they and their assailants, as Darwin highlighted, may naturally deselect themselves.