It is a simple concept, If you continue to live by violence you will die by violence. Jesus revealed this truth to Peter, “He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword.” Read the opening verses of Romans 13 (see below), you will find that when you are doing evil, you can expect the authorities to deal with you.
I have had enough of law enforcement leaders cowering in a corner over police involved shootings. From mayors to governors and presidents making police the bad guys when they have to stop people with evil intent. It is more than time for leaders to stand up boldly and make no apologies for stopping evil and preserving life.
So it did my heart good this morning when I saw this video of Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd responding to a reporter. The reporter wanted to know if the sheriff regretted saying that his officers were prepared for a “gunfight” with a group of dangerous murder suspects.
“I think everybody understands the gravity of what happened and the urgency and the response that you took,” the reporter began. “Some of the comments you made last night about shooting the suspects, possibly, and the comments today about ‘ready for a gunfight’ — was that in the heat of the moment? Do you have any regret about that?”
The sheriff pulled no punches in his reply. He spoke like a sheriff with a backbone who understands his job.
“I not only have no regret, I’m pretty excited about telling you that — that’s exactly what would’ve happened,” Judd shot back. “Make no mistake about it, there’s nothing about politically correct in a gun fight. There’s nothing about politically correct when you are keeping people alive and well and safe. And the people of this community and these law enforcement officers come first.”
“I meant every word of it then, and I mean every word of it now,” he added. “If you surrender peacefully, that’s the way we prefer it. You start pointing guns at us, you can not only plan on, but you can guarantee that we are going to shoot you.”
That’s what we need in New Mexico too. Sheriff Judd was not looking for bloodshed, not looking to kill anyone, but he was willing to do what needed to be done to save lives and end the crime spree of four men who killed a mother and her daughter.
Unlike in Albuquerque, where the police chief and the mayor hang their heads in shame and defer their authority to the Department of Justice, Sheriff Judd says it like it should be said. Obey the police and surrender peacefully or you can expect to be shot. The word of God backs him up.
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil.
Do you want to be unafraid of the authority?
Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. -Romans 13:1-4