Let us recollect that peace or war will not always be left to our option; that however moderate or unambitious we may be, we cannot count upon the moderation, or hope to extinguish the ambition of others. — Alexander Hamilton

My Take – You may not believe in violence, but violence may still be done to you.  You may not believe in guns, but one can be used to harm you.  Just because you are an upstanding, wonderful, law-abiding person doesn’t mean that someone  with less respect for human life won’t take advantage of your pacifistic ways and take what is yours or even your life.  Being prepared to do harm to protect yourself and those you hold dear does not mean you are looking for a fight.  Rather, it means that you are prepared to survive the fight if one is forced upon you.