Lethal force was justified in attack on U.S. Capitol

To the Times:

I was recently criticized, as a pastor, for my public criticism of the Capitol Police for not using deadly force against the terrorists that recently breached police barricades and the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

One-third of our entire national government leadership, the Legislative branch of government (e.g. congressmen and U.S. senators) and the vice president of the United States were in that building. Threats to their safety was imminent. Can you imagine if they were taken as hostages, assaulted, or worse killed by these rabid terrorists?

Yes, I am a pastor. But I’m also an alumnus of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Citizens Academy, a police chaplain for the Philadelphia Police and an alumnus of the U.S. Justice Department’s Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Citizens Academy. I’m an advocate for good policing.

As a pastor, I recognize that God used Joshua as law enforcement to use deadly force against many overwhelming threats in the territory of Canaan, in order for the nation of Israel to receive the Promise Land. As an advocate for law enforcement, I recognize that federal law enforcement are used to protect against threats against our legislative branch of government (congressmen and U.S. senators). When the Trump-inspired terrorists breached the Capitol Police barricade, then breached the Capitol Building, the Capitol Police were within their rights to eliminate further threats with lethal force.

Some may not know this, but the terrorists assaulted Capitol Police with metal pipes, chemical irritants and projectiles. This was not a Kumbaya moment, and certainly not a time for the police to be passive!

In 2013. Capitol Police shot and killed Miriam Carey, a Black woman, for merely making a wrong turn and side swiping one of their barricades with her car. So, yes, as a pastor, as a law enforcement advocate, and as a concerned U.S. citizen, I’m confused and concerned as to why Capitol Police did not execute deadly force when their lives, the lives of our entire legislative branch leaders, and the life of our country’s vice president were at risk while under imminent threat by hundreds of terrorists.

As a pastor, I love and respect the sanctity of life. Life is precious, it’s a gift of God. And it’s my heart’s desire that all live an abundant life of health and well-being.

As a pastor, I also understand that in extreme cases, lethal force is sometimes required to defend and protect the precious lives of others when threatened with imminent harm or death.

Rev. Michael Robinson, M.S., Lansdowne