"Believe me, I've considered carrying a weapon," Simon admitted. "But... I also know what bullets and lasers and knives can do to a person. When I became a doctor, I took an oath, and part of that was to do no harm. I'm not sure I could bring myself to fire on someone, even if a life-threatening situation."

Reavers, of course, excepted- because it was easier if he didn't think of them as people. They weren't able to be saved, no matter what Book- rest his soul- had thought.

"It was a difficult situation," he replied. "Because I wanted to help those people. They didn't have access to a doctor. Still, kidnapping was not the way to go about it."