Carry at church

Have not carried in church but I am going to broach the topic with the leadership.

I was at an evening rehearsal last week when a guy walked in asking for money to pay for "car repairs." We offered food but are advised not to give anyone money, so he left angry and probably jaded. It turns out there is no official security protocol or entry system for use when just a few people are there, it's dark, etc.

Christian charity and love of fellow man are virtuous, but you just never know if you can trust someone you've never met who just strolls in from the street. I wasn't carrying, and I wished I had been.

I carry my CZ Phantom.

And no one is the wiser.

Both of my pators know that I CCW. Several other members also carry. Our as St pastor is also a part time cop with the local force. They are both very supportive and happy to have us carry durind church. I carry my P 229 40cal Sig.

I would have to say defending yourself is biblical. I wouldn't enter the church if they banned guns.

You bet I carry my full size 9mm. Men, woman and children totaling around 2900 on any given Sunday. Even though having a small security team they can't be everywhere. Never know where evil will crop up its ugly head.

For a long time I never carried, a few months ago I began carrying a Browning Hi-Power some of the time. I used to carry a 1911 IWB every time I went to town, but now it's the Hi-Power.

Fortunately I live in a very rural and gun friendly area, but unfortunately, we can't predict where violence will occur.

2zulu1 said:

unfortunately, we can't predict where violence will occur.

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...and that's why we carry.

We have a small congregation of less than 50. I am a greeter and usher and collect the offering along with one other person. I usually carry my SR9c IWB. No one knows. I think I'm the only one that carries.

I carry one of my .357's in church, to the bank, grocery shopping, and every where else I go that is legal. In fact I have policy regarding stores that don't allow me to carry, I will not give them my business, cause I feel they are giving me the business.

GS

Yep.

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Every Sunday.

Sig 938 pocket 9mm. Bit more expensive but I'm a lot more accurate at greater distances than my old TCP (similar to LCP). I'm confident at about 15 yards right now but haven't had it for long. With some more practice I think 25yds will be no problem.
Carry it everywhere including Church.

I go to a small church, maybe 85 people on a good day. I know a couple people have their CCL including myself plus my cousin who is a deputy. I run the sound so I am in the back and would have a good vantage point to shoot from if the occasion ever happened. As far as what I carry, it just depends on how I feel that morning. Either my Taurus 65 .357 with 3 .38sp+p 158 gr and 3 .357 148gr or my CZ Rami 9mm. Lately its been the 65. Every once in awhile my wife likes to visit a much bigger church at night which doesn't allow CC (very ignorant IMO, so I don't go often) but I do anyways so its the Rami for there since its much smaller and concealable than the 65.

In Kansas, we are not allowed to legally carry in church, regardless of the wishes of the pastor or the churches leadership.

I won't discuss my personal carry in church, but I have discussed this with friends.

Those in particular who go to large churches, say almost unanimously that they always carry. They correctly point out that "gun Free" zones are "free kill zones" for any homicidal maniac. And that it is called "concealed carry" for a reason.

The ones that don't are those that attend small churches like mine, and even most of them carry in church, if they regularly carry. Many don't carry regularly, just as I didn't until relatively recently. After a couple of incidents among acquaintances, and a personal scare, that turned out to be harmless, I now carry almost every where.

No law against it that I know about and concealed is just that. Don't advertise, odds are you'll never use it and if you must it won't make any difference to anyone.

In Kansas, we are not allowed to legally carry in church, regardless of the wishes of the pastor or the churches leadership.

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That's not absolutely correct...its prohibited in Kansas so as long as the church is posted no carry with the appropriate signage; most churches in my area aren't posted.

http://www.usacarry.com/kansas_concealed_carry_permit_information.html

berettaprofessor said:

That's not absolutely correct...its prohibited in Kansas so as long as the church is posted no carry with the appropriate signage; most churches in my area aren't posted.

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Sorry, but you are incorrect. Check[URL="http://www.usacarry.com/kansas_concealed_carry_permit_information.html"]http://www.crime.about.com/od/gunlawsbystate/a/gunlaws_ks_3.htm[/URL]

In fact, just looking over the list, I see a couple of other places, and or events that I (might) have violated. Does the Scottish Games in McPherson quailify as an athletic event?

A correction*
On further study, Berettaprofessor may be correct. Bur I want my lawyers opinion before I am sure.

Sorry, but you are incorrect. Checkhttp://www.crime.about.com/od/gunlawsbystate/a/gunlaws_ks_3.htm

In fact, just looking over the list, I see a couple of other places, and or events that I (might) have violated. Does the Scottish Games in McPherson quailify as an athletic event?

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That sounds like a 1st Amendment violation to me. I wonder if any churches have challenged it as such?

I have been on staff (bi-vocational) of both Baptist and Methodist churches almost constantly since I was 16 years old as Music / Worship Minister (40 years, but's hey, who's counting!) And in case it matters, yes, I am an ordained minister. A lot of changes in society and church since 1972. At 16, when my truck pulled into the church parking lot (and my highschool parking lot!) it carried a Winchester 94 and a Browning Sweet 16, usually with a Taurus 4" .38spl under the seat. I spent 16 years of my career at a Methodist Church in a "transitional" neighborhood, while also serving as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. We had several "incidents" during that time. ALWAYS had a Ruger P89 with additional mags in my music bag. I am back in a smaller, rural Baptist church now, but still have the Ruger close at hand.

Like schools with "zero tolerance" policies, a gun-free church is simply a killing zone by another name.

In Luke 22:36, Jesus recognized that His Church would be born amid and survive through conflict, and that there would be circumstances requiring the use of lethal self defense by His followers. He didn't recommend a staff, sling or bow, either of which could be rendered a hunting weapon; rather, a sword, a martial weapon designed for warfare and defense.

"Put your faith in God, but keep your powder dry." Oliver Cromwell, 1642.

Shoot straight, and vote your convictions !!

In our wretched commy state (IL.) we can't carry at all yet, let alone in church. However a significant portion of our security team are either active duty or retired police officers which allows them to carry. They do a very good job of making sure they are in appropriate places throughout the church. Makes me feel much better about not being able to carry.

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In the church where I go the pastor, and all of the deacons carry, a number of parishoners also carry. Probably 25 or 30 regularly.

There is a small group of people that have always carried at my church. We became more organized about a year ago when the pastor was getting death threats.

Hey Navy,

Speaking as a minister, if your pastor is getting death threats, he and your congregation are either doing some things really, really good... or really, REALLY bad !!

Our present times are screaming for more radical believers...

Radical believing Christians, Radical believing voters and Radical believing proponents of the Constitution of the United States of America !!

To paraphrase Uncle Ted (Nugent, NOT Liberalennedy !!) from his book, if our city, county, school board, State and Federal REPRESENTATIVES do not know us by name, we are NOT doing OUR job.

Kahr33556 said:

I am a member of a church about 125 people plus kids.
My pastor knows me and a few others carry in church and has no problem with it.
I alway's pocket carry my LCP to church just because you never know.
I was thinking what good would it really be if I needed to use it ,it's a 5 yard gun.
Today I bumped it up a notch and carried my 9 maybe because of all the news on shootings.
I feel a lot more confident with my 9 able to make a head shot up to about 20 yards if needed with no problem.
My question how many of you carry if you go to church and what do you carry ?

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A lot of people carry little pocket guns like that, that they can't actually shoot very quickly or accurately, especially at any kind of range.

I don't go to church, and church carry is illegal here in GA , but when I have gone to church I carry the same Glock 26 that I usually carry.

Good on you stepping up to a properly sized gun. :thumbsup:

I always carry in church, and know several others who do so as well. There were some tentative meetings a while back about setting up a "security ministry" but so far nothing has come of it.

I am a former LEO, and volunteer as security (euphemistically called "night watch") for a homeless shelter run by several local churches, including mine. When the location rotated to a church with a zero tolerance weapons policy, I quit immediately. Nobody there would understand that being outnumbered at least 10 to 1 by potentially unstable people, half of whom have emotional or substance abuse issues, and being unarmed, is NOT such a great idea.