Alan: I have always been flummoxed that Americans are completely at ease with killing people in order to prevent property theft. The use of lethal force in the defense of property is considered a virtue.... exemplary behavior.... a Positive Good. Just last week, my 90 year old neighbor's son said to me: "Please keep an eye on my shop, because if you report a theft to the police then I won't have to kill 'em."
Needless to say, my neighbor's son considers himself a good Christian.
The Gospel of Luke
Chapter 6: 27-36
New Living Translation
27 “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. 30 Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. 31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you. 32 “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them!33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! 34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit?
So...
How do biblical literalists interpret Luke?
Is there any doubt what Yeshua means?
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Little Falls man indicted on first-degree murder
- Article by: RICHARD MERYHEW , Star Tribune
- April 25, 2013
Byron Smith is accused of killing two teenagers who broke into his home on Thanksgiving Day.
A Little Falls man accused of shooting two teenage intruders at his home on Thanksgiving Day has been indicted on first-degree, premeditated murder charges in connection with the killings.
The charges, spelled out in Morrison County District Court Thursday, come after a grand jury heard testimony for two days earlier this week. They reviewed evidence in the case against Byron David Smith, 64, who was charged in November with second-degree murder in the deaths of Haile Kifer, 18, and her cousin, Nick Brady, 17 as they broke into his home along the backwaters of the Mississippi River.
Some of Smith’s neighbors and relatives have said that Smith, a retired U.S. State Department employee who set up security systems for embassies, was acting in self defense after a series of burglaries at his home in the weeks and months preceding the shooting.
But prosecutors have argued at earlier court hearings that Smith’s actions before, during and after the killings suggest otherwise.
The teens, neither of whom was armed, apparently were trying to break into Smith’s red-brick rambler when he shot them about 10 minutes apart as they walked down the stairs to his basement.
Prosecutors said at a December court hearing that Smith had videotape of the teens outside his home before they broke in. They said he also had an audiotape of the killings that recorded Smith telling Brady “You’re dead” as he lay dying. He later taunted Kifer after shooting her several times, calling her “bitch” as he fired a shot beneath her chin and into her cranium, prosecutors said.
He then dragged the bodies into a workshop where they remained for 24 hours.
In Minnesota, a first-degree murder case cannot be prosecuted unless a grand jury has convened and issued a first-degree murder indictment.
Smith was released from jail in December after posting bail, but ordered to turn over his passport. Conditions of his bail after Thursday’s hearing remain unchanged.
His next court appearance is scheduled for July 1.
Richard Meryhew • 612-673-4425
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