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Ammon - Violent?

From the Book of Mormon:

Alma 17:39

39 And when he had driven them afar off, he returned and they
watered their flocks and returned them to the pasture of the
king, and then went in unto the king, bearing the arms which had
been smitten off by the sword of Ammon, of those who sought to
slay him; and they were carried in unto the king for a testimony
of the things which they had done.

Why do you think Ammon would want to cut off the arms of the people he already killed? Isn't enough that he killed them?

What are your thoughts in the matter?

Violent Ammon

Now I have two answers for it. The first one is that Ammon was defending himself from the attacks of the Lamanites, if you read carefully you will see that he cutted the arm of those who lifted their arms to kill him, Ammon wanted to show to King Lamoni a prove of what he has done and that's why he cut the arm of these people. The second answer I have is rather cultural one than a religious one.  The practice of cutting off some body part as a token of conquest is not unknown in the history of the world. In the Old World, the practice was often used to count enemy dead or perhaps to more accurately pay mercenaries ("Ammon and the Cutting Off the Arms of Enemies." Reexploring the Book of Mormon. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company and FARMS, 1992, pp. 1812).

Ammon - Violent? Studies Doctrine Mormon

I don't think he cut off their arms after he killed them.  Read verse 37:  But behold, every man that lifted his club to smite Ammon, he smote off their arms with his sword; for he did withstand their blows by smiting their arms witht he edge of the sword, insomuch that they began to be astonished, and began to flee before him; yea, and they were not few in number; and he caused them to flee by the strength of his arm.  
And also Chapter 18 verse 16
.......Is it because thou hast heard that i defended thy servants and they flocks, and slew seven of their brethren with the sling and with the sword, and smote off the arms of others,...........
He killed 6 with the sling.  He killed the leader with the sword, and others he cut off their arms.
It is pretty gruesom.  

Violent Ammon

I do not think Ammon was violent as he was only protecting himself and guarding the king's flock, like any good solider would do. Also, why stop there, you can evaluate Nephi's cutting off the head of Laban, but in both instances these men were acting in a good cause. Most of all it was sanctioned by God, so who are we to argue. If you really want to read about violent battles without mercy, try reading the Old Testament.