Would Real Jedi use guns?

My family is quite republican besides my mom (Liberal) and me (Independent) and don't like to use guns (I still think guns should be legal but I personally don't use them). The initial idea began as I watched Hacksaw Ridge, in which I thought, "Would a jedi use a gun? Even in self-protection but at the cost of another life>" and this eventually boiled down to me getting the idea of not killing anything. Would anyone be willing to answer my question if Jedi can use guns?

real jedi have no use for carrying a weapon wherever they go. Learn a martial art, which betters you physically and prepares you for a physical altercation.

Other than that, preparing to take a life is not in-line with our ideals.

Thank you, this is what i was thinking just better formatted. Thank you for the answer

Geni Jeuls wrote: real jedi have no use for carrying a weapon wherever they go. Learn a martial art, which betters you physically and prepares you for a physical altercation.

Other than that, preparing to take a life is not in-line with our ideals.

I'm not sure if you should use the term "real jedi" and then make a claim about them. I think real jedi can carry guns as well. What if your a jedi in the army? The movie jedi killed all kinds of people with a weapon as deadly as a gun so I'm not sure I see your point here anyway. Why is taking a life like in self defense not good?

If your reasoning is because you could take another person's life...then we have to consider a number of things to consider:

First, let's understand that the majority of people in the US (given the language in your post I'm only guessing this is where you live) will never have to face a decision where they are forced into a position to wield a weapon. A LOT will, but not the majority. So you would need to gauge the likelihood of you needing one before you spend your money on it under the pretense that you may have to use it against another human being.

Moving from here-

From the 16 Teachings:
3. Jedi are aware of the future impacts of action and inaction and of the influence of the past, but live in and focus on the Now. We let ourselves flow like water through the events around us. We embrace the ever-changing and fluid world, adapting and changing as it does.

You may take someone's life, or they could take yours. What most people don't know, is that there is a large number of murder cases going unsolved. Vox reported last year that you have about a 40% chance of getting away with murder in the US (https://www.vox.com/2018/9/24/17896034/murder-crime-clearance-fbi-report) so by allowing them to take your life...you're not actually doing them, yourself or their next potential victim any favors. A well-trained gunman, may not even need to use the gun beyond show of force (never pull a gun if you don't intend to use it, that'll just get you killed, but you can hope you don't have to pull the trigger...etc, etc).

With the knowledge and understanding that a Jedi may live in an area or be in a career (say police officer) that puts themselves in the kind of harm's way that might call them to defend the life of another, or even their own, then (IMO) we should accept (so long as they have the lawful ability to do so) that a Jedi can also be a gun-carrier.

14. Jedi are guardians of peace. We believe in helping all those that are in need, in whatever form, to the best of our ability. We recognise that sometimes providing help requires courage in the face of adversity but understand that conflict is resolved through peace, understanding and harmony.

This takes it a step further. This is more about how you personally believe you can achieve peace. In the first, I illustrated how the 16 Teachings supports gun use (where it is legally allowed to be owned/carried). But in the second, we define whether or not the individual Jedi should carry a gun. If you are privileged enough to live with no real need to carry/own a weapon, then you have to determine what it means to guard peace. Would carrying/owning a weapon cause people to be afraid? Some people have a fear of weapons, in some households it is a point of contention. One family member may feel the sheer presence of a gun puts everyone in the family at risk. Access to guns gives a person that wants to commit suicide a fast, and believed painless, option. It also increases risks to children. "In 2015, 2,824 children (age 0 to 19 years) died by gunshot and an additional 13,723 were injured." (https://injury.research.chop.edu/violence-prevention-initiative/types-violence-involving-youth/gun-violence/gun-violence-facts-and#.XfE-Uy3Mzs0). Also of note, is that most school shootings are done with a parent's unsecured weapon (https://lawcenter.giffords.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/The-Truth-About-School-Shootings-Report.pdf)

So can a Jedi use guns? By using the 16 Teachings, my conclusion: The simple answer is "Yes", the long answer is "Weigh it against your mission towards peace."

There's a reasonable chance I've killed more things with a shovel than a gun.

I don't *carry* a firearm, that's a decision that my state makes for me, so I don't need to really ponder my stance on it.

If at a particular moment in the time the correct action is apply the necessary science of a bullet to the problem, then I don't really have any moral qualms (that I'm aware of)

I'm not one who necessarily believes that "all people are valid" - so I am more than happy to accept a world where I carry a gun (and drive a car, and raise children, and am allowed to spend my own money on discretionary items) but everyone else has to wear a blue jumpsuit and enjoy their ration of daily gruel.

My grandfather has a pneumatic gun to protect his garden from crows, and he teaches me to use it. And also I love playing laser tag with my friends. But I don't think I would ever carry a gun with me outside of my house, and if I would need to use weapon to protect myself, my family or friends, or my property, I would do anything I can just to scare the person who attacked me, or to make him unable to attack again. But killing - no, never!

Traveler412 wrote: My family is quite republican besides my mom (Liberal) and me (Independent) and don't like to use guns (I still think guns should be legal but I personally don't use them). The initial idea began as I watched Hacksaw Ridge, in which I thought, "Would a jedi use a gun? Even in self-protection but at the cost of another life>" and this eventually boiled down to me getting the idea of not killing anything. Would anyone be willing to answer my question if Jedi can use guns?

I’m a Jedi. I’ve used guns. Part from my military career and part from my civilian life. Now a days I got a huge cedar “staff” that has killed mice, rats roaches and even a possum. For the humans in my life - my hands will be fine. My own choices lol. Now-retired and a dad and hubby a friend and a modern day Jeddist- I’m not so violent any more. Again, my own choice. If I needed to, bet ya a buck I’ll hit my mark every time but ... I try to be a change in people life’s rather than what I used to be. Don’t get me wrong- I can throw that staff or a knife any day- and even pitch a person if the need ever presents itself, but that’s not prolly how it will end.
To answer your question directly - should Jedi use guns- if you are a Jeddist then that’s to you Jedi- to figure out what YOU wanna wann be like and how you wanna do things. Would you as a Jedi use a gun?

Real Jedi come in a variety of mindsets. You need to examine yourself, and your reasons behind your opinions on guns, to get to the true answer for you. All of our answers will be different.

Can a Jedi use gun? Of course! The question should be should a Jedi? My opinion a Jedi is a keeper of the peace not a Warrior. A Jedi should be passive and calm. But it’s in our nature when we feel threatened and adrenaline kicks in to give in to fear and aggressive instincts. I think often why guns are often frowned upon because of these aggressive behaviors. I think we should find peaceful means before we resort to carrying a gun or weapon. Don’t get me wrong I’m not against owning a gun or a sword. I personally have several swords and knives. A Jedi should never use a weapon to intently kill rather if needs be disarmament of the other. “What if killing the individual is unavoidable?” I cannot imagine most of us here are in those situations on a regular basis unless your a soldier in wartime. I think a gun or weapon when wield is an extension of the human ego.

I have and will continue to use firearms to protect my livestock, harvest food and protect my person. You don't bring a knife to a gunfight and when coyotes are ripping your beloved livestock apart screaming at them does nothing.

In the woods, a pocket knife will not help you from an angry bear or a pack of coyotes hell-bent on attacking your dog or you.

Use your mind, define your perimeters on what you need to keep yourself safe and figure out what is best for you.

I walk a lot of dark places some are not safe without a firearm and have real monsters. I also take protecting my livestock and my family's way of life very seriously.

Finally, my family is all deer hunters, not trophy hunters. We use them to harvest animals that will keep our family fed through the winter. We live in an extreme climate, a firearm helps us make sure that everyone gets fed. Having been attacked by angry deer a sidearm goes a long way to keeping myself safe.

All things to take into consideration. Sometimes it is better to look through anothers eyes not just your own lenses.

Harm minimization is a big part of my Jedi path and I like to think the fiction supports this by presenting it in its most challenging scenarios. I avoid killing or harming animals, fish and insects etc as much as I can, even if (especially if) they are actively threatening or attacking.
There is a line though, I just incorporate helping all participants not end up over it.
Theraupetic application mindset to guide action, ie healing in its myriad ways.
I try not to eat meat even, but still sneak a bit of chicken too often. I've learnt most things we think are true and normal, even who we're told to trust, is often not the best course of action.
Guns though, a tool. Know how to use them properly so you can know if and how to use them according to your morals (and just laws). They have a purpose I suppose in some circumstances, but they are designed to kill. So hunting, no, I'd rather scavenge or eat plants etc. Warfighting and policing (and sport shooting!) are probably the only valid domains IMO, so it makes me wonder what I would consider to be the best roles in those scenarios for how I see the potential of a Jedi.

Edit: of course civilization shields me from most of these dilemmas.

Do Jedi? Yes
Should Jedi? Depends
Jediism isn't limited to only certain people, so it depends on your lifestyle's demands. Some of us may be from countries with few guns and have no use for guns and see the issue as such. Others are from 'murica and use guns as a tool more regularly than most would anticipate.
If you do or don't, the better question is why.

My reply disappeared, I can't be bothered writing it again, but lets all agree that "tortfeasor" is a magnificent word.

JamesSand wrote: My reply disappeared, I can't be bothered writing it again, but lets all agree that "tortfeasor" is a magnificent word.

If your doing a 'quick reply' and it gets vanished, sometimes going to the proper 'Reply' button found with the 'Action: button drop down menu will take you to a page which has remembered your post as a draft.

Tortfeasor.... that's the second new word for me today I was reading about Buccaneers and found 'strumpet' :blink: :lol:

I think it comes down to a personal decision that you have to come to terms with. I personally own a few firearms; for hunting and self defense; but I will stress that choice is not for everyone.

Look inside yourself and if you feel like you should or should not have one then come to peace with that decision.

Fyxe wrote:

Geni Jeuls wrote: real jedi have no use for carrying a weapon wherever they go. Learn a martial art, which betters you physically and prepares you for a physical altercation.

Other than that, preparing to take a life is not in-line with our ideals.

I'm not sure if you should use the term "real jedi" and then make a claim about them. I think real jedi can carry guns as well. What if your a jedi in the army? The movie jedi killed all kinds of people with a weapon as deadly as a gun so I'm not sure I see your point here anyway. Why is taking a life like in self defense not good?

Taking a life in any form for any reasons isn't "good". Something that is necessary isn't "good" just because it may be necessary. One should always seek to avoid it if possible. A Jedi's weapon is not limited to his light saber. This is simply one weapon that evolved for many different use cases. For example, even though Kanan used a blaster, a blaster is not an efficient way to block blaster bolts. Jedi focus on defense, not offense. Sending a blaster bolt back to the shooter makes a saber behave like a blaster therefore making the blaster redundant. But some had to use blasters to hide their identities as Jedi.

So in a real world scenario a Jedi could use a gun since a gun fulfills the ability of a light saber to "return fire", hitting someone at a distance. A regular sword can't do that and so it is inferior to a both a gun and extremely inferior to a light saber as a tactical weapon.

However, with that said. Jedi weren't trained to kill people. They were peace keepers. Jedi are also like samurai with a code of honor. Samurai resisted the age of guns because of the lesser need for skill and art form. Samurai were skilled in archery though so ranged weapons is always a consideration in actual battle. But I would say, for the sake of bushido, a true master prefers close quarters combat. A gun shoot out can involve a ton of skills too. Don't get me wrong. But it takes very little effort to kill with a gun than most other weapons. Yes, a sniper has to be really good and adjust for wind but compare this to an archer at the same distance.

So me personally, I own 2 swords and no guns. However, I have been to a couple of gun ranges before and know how to shoot. It's not my preference. I'd rather live in a world without guns; where someone can't spray a hail of bullets and hit everyone in the bullet's path. I'd rather live in a world where bombs can't be dropped from out of sight, ordered by commanders thousands of miles away. We've become to adept at killing each other using technology that is extremely imprecise and undiscriminating. I don't like it because I think it devalues life on this planet overall.

So could a real Jedi use a gun? Absolutely. Should a Jedi prefer it. That's a more personal question I think.

Yes. I use guns. Not for the reasons many might think though. I use them to kill predators who kill my livestock. I use them to overpower thieves and murderers who would take my property or life. Eventually I will use them to save lives or stop tyrants. Something g like that

Master Kenobi on Lightsabers -
“This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster; an elegant weapon for a more civilized age.”

I think a Jedi in our world would view firearms with the utmost distaste, however would use them, but only if absolutely necessary.


(note: as a Midwesterner, I LOVE guns, however, they present a point of conflict for me, because while guns are awesome, they are too easy to use, too easy for any angry person to take it out on others in the worst of ways)

ZealotX wrote: Jedi are also like samurai with a code of honor. Samurai resisted the age of guns because of the lesser need for skill and art form.

This is why I have disdain for modern warfare/combat.
Sure, it's technically more humane than hacking someone up with a sharp piece of metal.
But what happened to the good ol' mythical days of glorious battle and a warrior's honor?
I would love to meet my end in the midst of an honorable and just battle, and ascend to Valhalla o'er a field of glory and ruin!
Although, I come from Celtic and Viking heritage, so my blood may run more hot than most.

ZealotX wrote: So me personally, I own 2 swords and no guns. However, I have been to a couple of gun ranges before and know how to shoot. It's not my preference. I'd rather live in a world without guns; where someone can't spray a hail of bullets and hit everyone in the bullet's path. I'd rather live in a world where bombs can't be dropped from out of sight, ordered by commanders thousands of miles away. We've become to adept at killing each other using technology that is extremely imprecise and undiscriminating. I don't like it because I think it devalues life on this planet overall.

Exactly.

ZealotX wrote: So could a real Jedi use a gun? Absolutely. Should a Jedi prefer it. That's a more personal question I think.

Agreed.