Okay, we know that back in the Middle Ages, Pope Innocent III banned the use of crossbows by Christians against Christians, one of the first acts of gun control. But has this law ever been repealed? Could, concievably, I use a crossbow, assuming I were Christian, to repel Moorish invaders from my domed city?
Moors? No.
Moops? Sure.
The ban against the use of crossbows was first enacted by the Lateran Council, in 1139 AD. Later, Pope Innocent III (1140-ish) confirmed the ban.
The ban is still in place, so you may NOT use a crossbow, with a bow made of wood and horn or steel, against anyone but infidels.
I suppose it is alright to shoot a pagan or two with your crossbow, but with rumors of an impending moorish invasion of Iberia, you had best keep your bolts ready!
What about a composite, or some other metal?
I’m neither a christain nor owner of a crossbow, but one should always be prepared.
Since this was 378 years before Luther became a Lutheran, does that mean I can’t shoot a protestant with my nonexistant crossbow too?
Thats a tricky one, Wikkit, as I do not believe that current Church doctrine actually states that Lutherans are infidels.
Also, the original Lateran Council decree specifically stated crossbows with bows of wood and horn and crossbows with bows of steel; No mention was made of modern synthetics.
Unless you can contact a member of the Church’s heirarchy and get an official answer, I would play it safe, and stick to the ‘spirit of the law’. Stay away from synthetics and Lutherans.
No, Lutherans are not infidels. Only the unbaptised can be infidels. So steer clear of Lutherans and other Christian denominations.
UDS,
Hussites, who are ultra-orthodox Christians (I think), are infidels. At least, they were infidels in 1420 when Pope Martin V declared a crusade against them. Not a very successfull one, mind you, but a crusade nonetheless. (The Hussites were eventually done in by trickery and traitors rather then armies.)
I don’t think merely being Christian got you off the ‘infidel’ list way back when. Now, what with the kinder and gentler Church, I bet everyone is off the list. Where is the fun in that?
Well, as you guess, the term isn’t much used any more. Damn liberals spoiling all our fun. But in pre-Vatican II days it was the technical term for an unbaptised person. It was not necessarily a term of abuse - converts who were studying the faith but had not yet been baptised were infidels, and so I guess you could use a crossbow on them.
Don’t know about the Hussites, but I guess there might be some denominations who consider themselves Christian but reject baptism, at least as understood by mainstream Christians; they would be infidels. There might be other denominations who practice baptism but are so heterodox in relation to other matters (e.g. the divinity of Christ) that they might not be accepted as Christians. I don’t know where they stand.
This can be tricky, and I guess the best advice is - if in doubt, use a longbow.
No, by definition, Lutherans are not infidels. They are, however, heretics.
At least, according to the Catholic church-I’m sorry, I forgot to add that.
Also: Wood-and-horn bows are composite bows, so I suspect the ban against feathering fellow Xtians would apply or extend to crossbows made from modern composite materials.
in a church in north wales you are legally allowed to shoot a christian with a bow and arrow, but only on sundays :(, forget the name of the church tho.
As I understand it, the best thing is to be a non-practising Roman Catholic. Then you can shoot anyone you like with the crossbow.
I have already disposed of the young man next door who will not turn the music down, and I am preparing to stalk the man who parks his car across my gate. Getting religion at my age has been very satisfying indeed.
I trust I have not misunderstood the underlying principle?
In the city of Chester, you can shoot a Welshman after midnight (presumably at any point between midnight and dawn, perhaps best to do it at 12:01 to be on the safe side), but you must use a bow and arrow.
How about a compound bow? It’s not a crossbow, but it does have mechanical assistance.
If worse comes to worst, I suppose you can just fall back on the ol’ reliable shotgun. No papal edicts on that, son. Even Pope John Paul II isn’t about to tangle with the NRA.
And just remember, we jews can cap you punks with anything we want! It doesn’t have to be a Galil; we can throw down all old-school David on yo’ ass with tha Sling of Doom. 
As long as the bow’s limbs aren’t composite or steel… - Or - As long as it’s not a crossbow…
Oh, hell with it. Where’s my shotgun…?!
Ah, there’s a Seinfield quote for everything.