Now Colin is looking to outdo himself.  He has taken on a project in which he will build a DOUBLE BARREL 2 bore rifle.  He calls it the “Double Deuce” – and he’s documenting his build on YoutTube. I intend to keep updating this post and adding the videos in order as they come out.  So far he is up to video five, over forty hours of machine time alone.

Mr. Stolzer also has published a book on making muzzle loading locks from materials.  You can preview then order it by clicking here.

What this national experience demonstrated was the utter inability of law to provide a foundation for morality.  If all you need to do to get folks to do what is right or not do what is wrong is write a law then we would have no murder, no rape, no drunken drivers or thieves, for all those have long since been forbidden by legislation.  And yet any casual glance through the news sources today shows that they are occurring regularly – in spite of the laws against such actions.

So, what is the answer?  Where in can we find a way to bring about a better, more orderly society?  The answer lays at home.  It is only when a people is taught right from wrong at home, through example and not just by word, that a basis for an orderly society can exist.  When the foundation is strong the laws needed are few, for each person is self governed.  But the weaker the foundation, the more corrupt the society and the greater need for more and more laws to attempt to reign in the increase in disregard for others.

Morality can not be legislated.  Morality is the result of individual moral decisions which arise from personal convictions.  A moral society arises when the vast majority of the citizens choose to do what is right, not because of fear of punishment from doing wrong but rather due to an aversion for wrongdoing.  There will always be those who chose to do wrong and no fear of punishment can deter them.  It is for them that laws should be written, ensuring that even though they may “flaunt the law” that they will not be allowed to continue to do so.  As I heard mentioned in a debate on the death penalty one time, “The death penalty will not ensure that some person will never unjustifiably take another person’s life, but it SHOULD prevent them from doing so again.”  The same can be said of rape and other such reprehensible actions.  There will always appear some person or another who has no regard for the law.  The law should be such that such a person will never be allowed to prey upon others again.  The majority of violent crime in the United States of America is committed by less than 10 percent of the violent criminals.  Simply eliminating such persons from society will bring about a large drop in the crime rate.  Doing so swiftly would result in an even larger drop as people capable of reasoning it out will be dissuaded from imitating their actions for fear of imitating their demise.  Those incapable of “taking the hint” would be removed from society and thus further actions on their part against others would cease.

Erasing all current laws other than the Constitution and then rebuilding with only the bare minimum – strictly enforced – would result in a safer, freer society.  The proliferation of law upon law results only in making otherwise moral people into criminals by binding them with laws which have no effect on the immoral and criminally inclined.  A simple example is the found in the multitude of laws prohibiting the possession or carrying of firearms.  Criminals and violent people who do not hesitate to break the ancient, universal, law of “Thou shalt not commit murder” are not averse to breaking a lesser law dealing only with the possession of an inanimate object.  A person who will shrink from possessing an inanimate object because some law says “Don’t!” is less likely to break the innate law of “don’t murder”.  Binding the latter has no effect on the former, and leaves the latter at the mercy of the former.  If a person who, out of fear of violent people or a desire to protect others, breaks the inane law of “don’t possess an inanimate object” is punished for doing so, nothing is done other than to deny a useful citizen to society.  Such a person is not the type of person who would attack another without due cause.

This morning Facebook™ was ablaze with the news – and now there were two camps apparent amongst folks whose posts show up on my “wall”.  There were the Proverbs 11:10 folks (“When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.”) and the Proverbs 24:17-18 folks (“Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them.”)  And of course Martin Luther King Jr. was quoted as well: “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can… do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”  Many apparently are not sure how to handle news such as this.  Here is my take on the topic.

Osama bin Laden made a conscious decision to seek to destroy innocent lives.  Due to his ideals, ideology, theology, political inclinations and – especially – his sinful nature, he chose a path that could only result in his ultimate destruction.  Such a decision is lamentable, to say the least – yet it was his decision.

The U.S. government is charged with protecting the nation against those who would do her harm. She “bears the sword” to punish those who do wrong.  And plotting the violent deaths of innocent people is very wrong indeed.  The government was well within its rights and duties to seek out Osama bin Laden and exact from him the earthly price for the crimes he committed.  As for his eternal situation, he will have to take that up with a much Higher Authority indeed.

So, as a Christian, what should be our response to the news of the decease of Osama bin Laden?  First, we must realize that each person chooses their destiny.  He suffered the results of a long list of poor choices, to say the least.  So we should not be angry with our government for doing what she had to do, Osama had shown no sign of repentance for the evil actions he planned, and gave every indication of inciting further atrocities against not only our nations but against other innocent peoples as well. It is lamentable that he did not choose a different path, but the path he chose was his own.  Nor should we feel elation that he has gone to his eternal reward, for not even God Himself desires the destruction of wicked people.  He desires that ALL come to repentance and a right relationship with Him through Jesus the Christ.  But according to Scripture He accepts the fact that not all will do so and so they choose their own destiny.  It is my belief that as Christians we should feel relief that this particular person shall no longer be a scourge to innocent victims of his atrocious plans.  We should feel gratitude that our government did its part to repay him for his actions.  And we should feel the sense of urgency to take a message of love to those who, like Osama bin Laden, know only fear and hate towards those who are different from them.

The death of Osama bin Laden does not put an end to the situation in which our nation has lived over the past decade.  In fact, some analysts believe that his death will serve as a trigger for more attacks against innocent people.  But the greatest danger to our nation does not lay with those who follow Islam and al Qaeda.  The greatest danger lays within our own borders, in the hearts and minds of a people who no longer seek a path of truth and justice.  Our greatest danger lays in a church that is so preoccupied with pleasing herself and serving herself that she has forgotten that she exists to do the will of her Lord and Savior.  Our churches have grown complacent and have conformed to the prevailing social winds rather than transforming herself by renewing her mind so that she can see with the Master’s eyes and reach out with the Master’s hands to serve the world around her in love.

The Martin Luther King Jr. quote above has been corrected from that originally included in this post that reads as follows:  ““I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” –Martin Luther King, Jr.  According to an article my friend Kathleen posted a link to, the original quote did NOT include the first sentence. Someone apparently decided to add in their own sentiment – which is fine, but then it is no longer a quote.

Do you lock your doors?  Do you remove the key from the ignition of your car? Do you go to the doctor? Do you have a fire extinguisher? Do you have tools for repairing anything? Do you have health insurance? Do you have car insurance (more than the legally mandatory amount)? Do you have home owner’s insurance?  Do you wear a seat belt? Do you have a pension plan or IRA? Do you have a savings account? Do you own stocks, bonds or mutual funds? If you answered “Yes” to any of the above then do you really trust God?

I’ve had the “if you really trusted God then you wouldn’t even own a gun, much less carry one” conversation before.  Yet the people who make the statement usually have various kinds of insurance, lock their doors, take the ignition key out of the car, have an alarm installed on their car and in their home, go to the doctor, take prescription medications, own stocks, bonds, mutual funds, IRA’s and have a savings account.  Somehow they don’t see the parallels between those areas of life and their personal security when it comes to “trusting God”. The same case of “you don’t really trust in God” can easily be made in each of the areas mentioned above – if you truly believe that God does not expect us to do what we can for ourselves and others.  But if you believe that God calls us to do what we can for ourselves and to lend a hand to those in need then you should also have no problems understanding that trust in God is about doing our part and leaving the unknown future in His most capable hands.

I don’t carry two extinguishers in the car because they are required by law or because I do not trust God to protect me and my vehicle from fire.  I carry two, both larger than the one minimum sized one required by law, because if a fire DOES break out one may not be enough and it is better to have left over capability than it is to run out in the middle of putting out a fire.  And yes, I have been called on to use one to help out someone else – who did not even have the minimum required by law here. Likewise, I do not carry a reasonably well stocked first aid kit because I’m hoping someone will gash themselves.  It is carried because sometimes folks DO need some serious patching up before they are transported to a hospital.

I believe God works through people, not just by “miracles”. Sometimes the “miracle” is that a prepared individual “just happens” to be where they need to be in order to help someone in need.  Like the guy who had his arm ripped off by an alligator while snorkelling in a lake.  He “just happened” to crawl out of the lake next to where a bunch of emergency medical personnel “just happened” to be having a picnic.  They “just happened” to have what was needed to stabilize him before the emergency services reached the area and transported him to the hospital.

Being armed does not mean that one is “looking for a fight” or “wants to kill someone” or “is taking revenge” or is “exercising the government’s duty of bearing the sword for punishment”.  Defense of self and others is not revenge.  Defense of self and others is not taking over the government’s job. Being armed and capable of defending one’s self and others is no more looking for a fight and the opportunity to kill someone than having an extinguisher in the car is the same as looking for a fire to break out.

Some, of course, will still “not get it”.  That is to be expected.  Some people are conditioned to trust in government even more than they do in God.  They expect “someone” from the government to magically show up at the precise time of need.  In the US, the average response time for emergency personnel to arrive on the scene is around 10 minutes – AFTER the call is made.  That is far longer than is needed for grave bodily harm to be done to an innocent person, especially since most calls are made AFTER the crime is committed. An armed response by a “mere civilian” is sometimes all that stands between a bad situation and a worse one.  My friend, Charl van Wyck, and his Rossi 38 spl snub nosed revolver were all that stood between heavily armed assailants and hundreds of defenseless people. His willingness to put himself in danger kept the Saint James Massacre from being much worse than the horrible incident that it was. Some will, of course, maintain that he should NOT have had that five shot revolver in the church building in the first place.  Some claim that his actions were “revenge”. Some claim that he should have just “stood there like a good Christian” and let them kill him and the others present at the time. But the fact remains that he was armed, he was trained and he was able to do what he could to keep the situation from becoming worse – because he trusted in God yet did his part to protect innocent lives. “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” – Edmund Burke

James wrote, “But someone will say,”You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works.” Trusting in God is not about sitting there with your arms crossed expecting Him to do everything for you.  It is about doing your part and trusting in Him to bless what you have done and to fill in the gaps where you were unable to do anything.

I hauled my pack up by parachute cord and got ready for the long night. I placed my spare shells in the loops of my vest and checked the old H&R single shot 28 gauge shotgun before slipping the full brass black powder shell with a load of 3T shot into the hand cut chamber.  The Ruger MKII with the long tapered barrel was examined, loaded and slipped back into its place.  The quarry sought was deer and I didn’t trust my aim enough with the Ruger to risk using it.  It would be called on for small game only, smaller even than the tiny deer typical of this region.

With a flapping and squawking the tree filled with pemba.  The gamecock size birds went about their business of feeding, paying no attention to the motionless figure in the cloth sling.  They moved on to roost and calm returned to the berry tree.

Darkness came and with it came countless unnamed noises in the dark. The scurrying and rustling of tiny feet was easily heard as the rats, possums and other small creatures went about enjoying the succulent repast of fermented fruit under the tree. Occasionally a louder noise would provoke a blinding flash from my flashlight and the activities below would barely slow as I sought the source of what surely would prove to be at least a cutía or paca if not a deer.  Time after time I was greeted with the sight of some little rodent under a great pile of leaves, busily seeking out some morsel.

The night grew colder and the blanket was drawn tight.  A breeze moved the branches and wafted my scent through the trees, this was not good for not only did the breeze seem to penetrate to my bones, it had the effect of sending a warning to my quarry.

The cold grew unbearable as the southern winter night drew to a close and then came the faint tinge of light in the east, announcing the coming heat.  As the light grew more perceptible the pemba returned, squawking and flapping, to fill their crops with the morning meal.  The Ruger spoke twice before the pemba moved on to find a quieter meal, leaving two of their number to provide my own meal. As I climbed down from my perch to await my companions I reflected on the passing of this way of life.  The sertanejo’s life has never been easy. Now, with the vast acreages of virgin jungle being cleared to make way for vast plantations of rice, corn and soy, the game was disappearing and their simple way of life was threatened.

Those were simple days, simple times.  The people met in the vast southern regions in the state of Maranhão are sorely missed.  There is nothing that compares to their simple cuisine and carefree lives.  They are poor, most only having one set of clothes and only the bare necessities of life.  When they pack up to move on, their earthly possessions will usually only occupy the back of a donkey, perhaps two. But they are very hospitable and friendly, freely sharing what little they have.  Their diet usually consists of short grain rice, farinha (ground up manioc root which has been roasted until dry) and beans.  It is a diet short on vitamins, proteins and fats.  A typical breakfast consists of strong, sweet coffee (often sweetened by locally produced brown brick sugar) and “cuis cuis” – a steamed loaf of ground rice or corn, and, if the hunters have been successful, a bit of fried meat to go with it.  Meat and fat is craved by all and fruits as well.  When the oranges are in season they barely have a chance to turn slightly yellow before getting knocked down and eaten.

That is why the people hunt as they do.  There is no talk of sport, they hunt for lunch or supper or breakfast and returning home empty handed usually means white rice again with nothing to fill in the nutritional imbalance.  So they take to the trees at night with flashlights and carefully hoarded batteries to await what ever chance may bring their way.

Most houses have at least one firearm of some kind.  The “por fora” is very frequently found in various persuasions.  This is the typical Brazilian muzzle loader.  A typical one will have a paper thin barrel made even thinner by mistaken neglect.  The people believe that a muzzleloader or shotgun becomes deadlier as it builds up “veneno” (poison) in its barrel over time.  What actually occurs is that the barrel grows thinner and thinner and eventually will burst as the rust eats away at the already thin walls.  A typical “por fora” will have around a .40 caliber smooth bore barrel made of some kind of iron curtain rod type material.  The breach area will be wound with a layer or two of iron wire by way of reinforcement.  The nipple will be set in a bolster welded to the side of the barrel and the lock will not have a functional half cock.  A variation on the theme is the “rabo de macaco” or “Monkey’s Tail” muzzle loader.  In this variation the nipple is of the “inline” persuasion and the striker is directly behind the barrel. The typical load is a .38 spl case full of FFFg powder or possibly only a .32 SWL case full.  A wad of jute or other fiber is pounded over the powder with the iron ramrod and a few pieces of 3T or smaller shot will be loaded on top, followed by another wad of fiber.  When things work as they should, the por fora can be deadly out to 20 yards or so.  After that it scatters too badly to be effective.

It is not uncommon to find a variety of shotguns in the homes in the area.  The .410 and the .28 guage are probably the most common, but one can find all the gauges if time is given to search and to talk with folks.  The 9.1 mm, 36 (.410), 32, 28, 24, 20, 16 and 12 gauges can all be found.  Brazilian law forbids anything in a “magnum” gauge or caliber but I’ve seen 12 gauge 3″ magnums in the hands of some of the more well to do.  Full length brass shells with berdan primers and black powder are by far the most common fodder for the shotgun in northern Brazil.  Some of the smokeless powders are beginning to take root and find a following.  Tupan is one of the early powders to begin replacing black powder.  It got a bad rap because it split shells and had to be packed tight.  If there wasn’t enough compression it would not burn properly.  As a teenager I learned to load with this powder.  It was in a 32 gauge Boito that belonged to an american rancher.  He’d leave it with me while he was in the US earning money to keep the ranch going.  I’d use a mallet and dowels to pack the wad over the powder, keeping the primer from contacting anything by holding it in a special base.  The split shell problem was only in older guns with rusted, enlarged chambers.  I’ve seen a sertanejo shooting a shotgun that headspaced on string wrapped around the base of the shell.  This was because the chamber had eroded away from years of neglect.  It did OK with black powder, but the newfangled powders built up to much pressure and split the shells, or worse.

The 22 LR was the most common of the rifles.  It is used to hunt everything on the south american continent.  They will use it for everything from doves to mountain lions and jaguars.  The CBC single shot is fairly common as are the CBC bolt actions.  I’ve even seen Belgian “half automatic” rifles and others types brought in from the US and Europe. Some of the finest were brought in by priests or protestant missionaries.  The 22 is well regarded and often misused.  Some of the hunters will shoot a deer from over 100 yards away and then have to track it with hounds.

There is also a good quantity of model ’73 and ’92 Winchesters, mostly in 44-40.  These are left over from the rubber days.  The rubber workers demanded the best weapons available for protection from (and aggression against) the Indians.  I saw one 38-40 round during my time there and 32-20 ammo was available, but the 44-40 was king of the centerfire rifles.  I saw numerous examples of Winchesters in that caliber but never saw a 38-40 and only a few single shot CBC 32-20′s.

A good revolver was sought by many and the S&W was king.  The old Military and Police was very common and many an old timer refuses to give up his “smeetchy”.  Almost invariably the S&W was in .38 spl. Colts were not unheard of, they were known as the “cavalinho” or “little horse” revolver, but I never personally handled one.  Most folks carried them for protection against two legged varmints or because they WERE two legged varmints.  Few people used them for hunting, I was regarded as a rich man because I used my Rossi .38 so much.  With shells costing US$2 a piece, no wonder folks didn’t shoot them much.  I’d carried loading supplies in and so could shoot my .38 cheaper than a .22.  I paid for my loading setup by selling shells to folks.  I’d take six empties for one loaded round, not a bad profit, or sell ammo for half the store price if they supplied the brass.  The berdan primers would be drilled out and replaced with boxer primers and loaded with a light load of powder.  Some of the brass was balloon head and also received light loads.  My ammo was more accurate than that sold by CBC and I even sold 400 rounds to the police one time.  Once I learned more about Brazil’s laws I ceased selling reloaded ammo and only used it for my own shooting.  They finally allowed reloading, but not the sale of reloaded ammo.  I even replaced my supply of primers via mail order.  Powder was the “Especial de Caça“, a smokeless shotgun powder.  This I’d load under a hard cast WC or SWC HP.  The hollow points were cast from Lee’s 150 grain HP mold, the wadcutters were from a Lyman mold a friend swapped to me.

I learned to make do with about anything.  A friend showed up with a “broom handle” Mauser and some dud shells.  I pulled the bullets, drilled out the berdan primer, seated a fresh boxer primer, dumped in a load of Bullseye and pushed the bullets back in.  After firing twice the cases were too loose to hold the bullets, but making do allowed the old gun to speak once more after a half century of silence.  It had the original wood shoulder stock/holster and was in fairly good condition, but I never could convince them to let me have it.

One of my favorite places to hang out was at an old blacksmith’s place.  I’d sit in his shop and talk all day with him about guns.  He was self taught and could build about anything you needed to repair a gun, from scratch.   The only parts he couldn’t make were rifled barrels and revolver cylinders. His drill was home made as were many of his tools. Welding was done in the forge.  Empty 22 shells served to braze with and if he didn’t like you he wouldn’t do the job.  If he DID like you it still might take six months or longer because he couldn’t talk and work at the same time. What a character!  He learned the hard way not to double charge .22 shells.  Once he’d taken a dud shell apart and dumped the powder into a fresh shell he’d taken apart,  pushed the bullet back in on top of the double charge.  He then proceeded to fire it in a Belgian half automatic rifle he owned at the time.  The bolt cracked in two and the bullet buried itself so deep in a mango tree that he never was able to dig it out.   That was when he learned a) not to double charge .22 shells and b) how to weld a bolt back together again.  He later traded that rifle off.  I saw one like it, chambered originally for the .22 short.  It would eject the case when you fired it and keep the bolt open so you could load another round.  It was a single shot.  For some reason you could load it with .22 LR shells and it worked fine.

The sertanejo is typically a fine person.  Their ways are different from ours and I learned a lot from them.  They are very pragmatic when it comes to hunting, sport has nothing to do with it.  What ever it takes to get the dinner pot filled is fine with them.  Unfortunately the habitat is shrinking and the hunting pressure is too heavy for the declining population of game animals.  I gave up hunting because I didn’t need to hunt to survive.  We lived on goats which took care of our protein needs and I even helped others get into raising goats as well.  But I regret that I never did get one of the elusive deer while hunting from a hammock.

The article above was written several years ago, in 2000, while I was recovering from dengue fever in Barranquilla.  It was originally published on the old sixgunner.com website, was reposted on the Sixshooter Community and FiveShot.org sites and is now here (with a few edits for clarity, spelling and proper usage) for future reference as well.  I’d forgotten about this little piece, but the memories are pleasant and I enjoyed taking this trip down memory lane…

Shepherds in the hills the story were told,
By a multitude of angels, proclaiming the story bold.
At the manger in wonder they stood,
As they beheld the Author of all that is good.

Wise men from afar came following a star.
In an humble home they bowed,
Gifts to the Giver of all they bestowed
Before returning home by another road.

To Egypt the family fled, from an angry king.
To Nazareth they returned, and fulfilled the prophecy.
Labor, love, life in fullness He knew,
As from boy to Man He grew.

As a lad He confounded religious scholars,
As a Man He gathered many followers.
By those close to Him He was betrayed,
Viewing Him on the cross His followers were dismayed.

Sorrow, defeat, fear and dismay,
Behind windows and doors barred at the end of day,
From terror to joy at the appearance of Him
Who rose to give hope of freedom from sin.

Born to live, born to die, born to be crucified.
Crucified in our place,
The babe from Bethlehem brought Grace.

Jesus – the reason for the season.

I don’t carry a gun to kill people.
I carry a gun to keep from being killed.

I don’t carry a gun to scare people.
I carry a gun because sometimes this world can be a scary place.

I don’t carry a gun because I’m paranoid.
I carry a gun because there are real threats in the world.

I don’t carry a gun because I’m evil.
I carry a gun because I have lived long enough to see the evil in the world.

I don’t carry a gun because I hate the government.
I carry a gun because I understand the limitations of government.

I don’t carry a gun because I’m angry.
I carry a gun so that I don’t have to spend the rest of my life hating myself for failing to be prepared.

I don’t carry a gun because I want to shoot someone.
I carry a gun because I want to die at a ripe old age in my bed, and not on a sidewalk somewhere tomorrow afternoon.

I don’t carry a gun because I’m a cowboy.
I carry a gun because, when I die and go to heaven, I want to be a cowboy.

I don’t carry a gun to make me feel like a man.
I carry a gun because men know how to take care of themselves and the ones they love.

I don’t carry a gun because I feel inadequate.
I carry a gun because unarmed and facing three armed thugs, I am inadequate.

I don’t carry a gun because I love it.
I carry a gun because I love life and the people who make it meaningful to me.

Police protection is an oxymoron.
Free citizens must protect themselves.
Police do not protect you from crime, they usually just investigate the crime after it happens and then call someone in to clean up the mess.

Personally, I carry a gun because I’m too young to die and too old to
take a whoopin’

Author Unknown (One of the world’s most prolific writers)

Are there parallels in the Christian world?  Of course.  In Roman Catholic countries it is not uncommon to find a copy of the Bible opened up to Psalm 91 on a book stand in a prominent part of the house.  It is common to find that copy of the Bible covered with plastic wrap to prevent dust and grime from soiling it.  In many congregations it is mandatory that all rise when the Bible is read as a sign of respect.

Over the centuries, many efforts have been made to stamp out the Bible.  Bibles have been burned, their printing and distribution have been forbidden and heavy penalties for their possession have been levied against those who chose to disobey.  A family friend from my childhood told me how when he was a small lad he stood beside his mother as the local priest tore their copy of the Bible into shreds and burned it in front of their house.  It was a “forbidden book” and thus to be destroyed.  That experience did not convert him and his mother to thinking like the priest, in fact it was probably responsible for driving them further away from the Roman church.

Some people try to use the example of Paul’s ministry in Ephesus as “authority” to destroy the Qu’ran.  But let’s take a quick look at what happened there.

¹⁷When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. ¹⁸Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. ¹⁹A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. ²⁰In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. Acts 19:17-20 (NIV)

Paul didn’t go around forcing people to convert by burning copies of their “holy books”.  He preached the Gospel and God worked through him in mighty ways.  People confessed their sins and gave their lives to God through Jesus the Christ – and on their OWN initiative they gathered together a pile of their OWN magic books and burned them in public.  Why?  Well, they came to realize that those books were nothing compared to the great message of peace with God through Jesus the Christ.  And if they were of no use to them any more, then they were of no use to ANYONE.  They did not mourn the human value of the books – they burned them as of being of no use or true value any more.

Many people have tried to stamp out ideas by burning books.  This doesn’t work.  Ideas are in peoples’ hearts and minds and are lived out daily in the choices they make.  Many who stand in a church meeting for the reading of the word will bow to satan in their daily life choices during the week.

³³ “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.³⁴ No longer will a man teach his neighbor,  or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,”  declares the LORD.  “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31:33-34 (NIV)

The true Gospel of Jesus the Christ is written on the hearts and in the minds of His disciples.  It is demonstrated by a life transformed by the truths, not by an obsession with rituals concerning “the proper use” of a bundle of paper with ink on it.  A right relationship with Jesus the Christ results in a change of mind with leads to a change of actions.

¹Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual^[a] act of worship. ²Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

If you would destroy the Qu’ran you must do so by leading the followers of that book to Jesus the Christ.  You must help them to find freedom through the Truth.  When they DO come to knowledge of the Truth then they themselves will leave their book aside to turn to the Gospel message that is written on the hearts and minds of those who follow Jesus the Christ.  Destroying a physical book does not do that.  Instead it builds barriers that are difficult to overcome.  Yes, many atrocities are committed in the name of Islam. But many who call themselves Christian are no better at living the Gospel message when it comes down to looking at things objectively.

Ideas?  You don’t over come them by brute force.  We are called to a holy war – but one that does not destroy a physical enemy.  We are called to wage a war against the ideas that hold the world captive to satan’s lies.

⁴The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NIV)

If you believe in Jesus the Christ, join the battle for the hearts and minds of the world.  Allow Christ to clean your thoughts so that He can be glorified through your changed life as the Holy Spirit produces His fruit in you.