His opening paragraphs are actually decent. We should not have "teach them a lesson!" mentality. Like most issues, we should seek to have a heart like Christ's.
Then he starts his points:
1. The apostle Paul called Christians not to avenge ourselves, but to leave it to the wrath of God, and instead to return good for evil.
Self defense, in the moment, is not vengeance. How can one return good for evil if you die in receiving the evil?
He references Romans 12:17-21, but misses v18
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
(emphasis mine)
Paul shows understanding that it is not always possible to live at peace.
The rest in this point he gets right. God sometimes uses Governments to enact vengence and justice, and an individual should not take that upon himself or to "teach a lesson". These verses say nothing on self-defense.
Point 2 talks about suffering, but he doesn't really relate that back to self-defense and as such I don't have much in way of counter points. He's spot on at the end:
Peter’s aim for Christians as “sojourners and exiles” on the earth is not that we put our hope in the self-protecting rights of the second amendment, but in the revelation of Jesus Christ in glory
Our hope should be in Christ alone, not the second amendment. Many have lost their lives, even while they had guns to defend themselves, but if you're in Christ you've already overcome. But acting in self-defense does not mean that your hope is in you gun any more than going to a doctor or using modern medicine means you've abandoned your faith. On the contrary, sometimes God brings you through by giving you the strength or guiding your footsteps or actions.
As he goes on through his points, you'll see a clear distinction. It speaks of enduring suffering, but it's ambiguous at best on the point of self-defense. The vast majority of scripture quoted relates to being persecuted by the government, courts, or authorities (in many cases religious authorities, who at the time had their own courts and enforcers). These cases presented ample opportunity to stand before your persecutors and give testimony for Christ. However, in a crowded movie theater, being gunned down side by side with any random person provides no avenue for proclamation nor to show your faith other than to die just like the atheist or muslim sitting next to you. These examples also provided little chance of defense. Going out in a blaze of glory doesn't do much either. As Solomon would say there's a time to live and a time to die. We should be "wise as serpents" and know the difference.
Overall, as this is in response to Dr. Falwell's address, there's a lot to agree with. It comes down to something so basic to Christianity: seeking God's heart. We need to be careful in our language and presentation, and Falwell seemed a little loose for my taste. This becomes very situational, and scripture doesn't try to outline every situation and the correct response. Instead, it's a journey of seeking the very heart and nature of God, and letting that lead you.
Our primary aim in life is to show that Christ is more precious than life. So when presented with this threat to my wife or daughter or friend, my heart should incline toward doing good in a way that would accomplish this great aim.
This is the part that absolutely baffles me. Man breaks in, attacks your wife and daughter, and somehow doing nothing will show everyone the great love of Jesus? Imagine your daughter has a friend over who is also attacked and killed. Think her parents will think, wow, what a special faith and hope you have to sit back and only pray?
To me, when it says, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." it includes coming to someone's defense, even with arms, even with the chance that you may not make it out alive.
I think Falwell made a mistake when he talks about "teaching them a lesson". I hope I never have to act in defense of myself or anyone else. But I also hope that I have the faith that if God places me in position to protect others who may be defenseless, that I don't seek preservation of my own life but trust mine to Him and do what's necessary.