Preservation of liberty

If Christians are to be pacifist, Jeffrey Snyder points out that we won't preserve our freedoms for long:

Only people willing and able to defend themselves can preserve their liberties.

Also from A Nation of Cowards.

Responsibility to family and community

Again, a little bit from Jeffrey Snyder and A Nation of Cowards, in defense of the morality of self-defense:

One who values his life and takes seriously his responsibilities to his family and community will possess and cultivate the means of fighting back, and will retaliate when threatened with death or grievous injury to himself or a loved one. He will never be content to rely solely on others for his safety, or to think he has done all that is possible by being aware of his surroundings and taking measures of avoidance. Let's not mince words: He will be armed, will be trained in the use of his weapon, and will defend himself when faced with lethal violence.

Contempt for God's gift of life

A friend sent me something that got me thinking about the Christian arguments for pacifism vs. self-defense, so an essay on the topic is forthcoming. Here's what Jeffrey Snyder has to say on the issue:

One who believes it wrong to arm himself against criminal violence shows contempt of God's gift of life […], does not live up to his responsibilities to his family and community, and proclaims himself mentally and morally deficient, because he does not trust himself to behave responsibly.

From A Nation of Cowards.