I agree that a literal sword can represent the weapons of different generations.
Self defense?
IMO, l always saw it as "l trust you God....but just in case you don't come through, l have ol' Betty and her six little friends to back me up."
NOW the stones should be coming.
Then I take it that ol' Betty is a revolver.
I also think that being prepared for self defense is part of what Jesus wants the husband of a family to do.
And what about gun safety around children especially. I believe a responsible person will spend the money for a good gun safe, that only the owner can get into. They make four digit handgun safes now that an owner can quickly open with his fingertips in the dark.
Technically for a child to get a hold of a loaded weapon, is a VIOLATION of a NRA Safety rule.
I personally believe the 999 out of a 1000 so-called gun accidents, are NOT REALLY ACCIDENTS; but in reality, they are the end results VIOLATIONS of Gun Safety rules. Those rules, I learned when Dad bought me my first BB gun, when I was a child on the farm. Top of that list is ALWAYS ASSUME EVERY WEAPON IS LOADED BEFORE YOU PICK IT UP, and check the chamber or cylinders immediately after picking it up. And the Second Rule was NEVER point the barrel at anyone. The only exception to that rule is when you absolutely know you have to fire that weapon in self defense.
