Gimli and the Ring

[Zebedee]

Originally Posted by Nilpaurion Felagund

Heaven forbid! He would have killed Sméagol, then it's game over.

He wouldn't have the capacity to connect to Gollum's torments. Frodo did. The mercy formed from that connection was the key to Sauron's demise.

Actually, Gollum trying to take the ring for himself led to Sauron's demise, not Frodo's connecting to Gollum's torments.
Also, if Gimli had the strength to resist the Ring, Gollum wasn't needed. Remember, Thror, his kinsman, was killed by Sauron. What better method for revenge then destroying the Ring, and therfore Sauron.