I don't think there's any real question whether the parishoners/leaders/employees are legally armed and justifiably so - quite clearly, they are.
The real issue we've been glossing over - or ignoring in an RKBA fit - is that yes, the state has the authority to regulate day care centers, period.
Where did the state get that authority? Two sources - the "police powers" and "general welfare" portions of the U.S. and state constitutions, which, whether you agree with it or not, has been deliberated by the "highest" and "most authoritative" minds in our country to include such state activities, so put that in your neo-constitutionalist wannabe expert pipes and smoke it, and secondly,
YOU, dear shooter, have GIVEN the state that authority by electing your legislators that pass the laws regarding day care centers.
Church/state separation is a red herring; don't go there - those kids are not participating in all-day, twelve-hour purely religious activities protected by the first amendment - they're playing, doing crafts, singing songs, eating breakfast/lunch/dinner, etc. This case is not going to be decided on first amendment grounds. It's going to be decided on whether the activities of this church fit the definition of "day care." It doesn't matter if the activities are being held on private property or church property: if it fits the definition, that's what it is. Period.
If not, the state authorities must go away.
If so, then comes the hard question: how is the RKBA squared with the laws governing day care facilities?
I know I haven't heard enough facts to make a decision, and I'm willing to bet nobody except darrin knows those facts. So please, don't go off on anti-statist rants unless you really know what you're talking about - I work for a state entity, and I know better what's in the minds of state authorities, and it's none of the tripe your spewing - they're thinking of their obligations under the laws passed by YOUR representatives that YOU elected, so back the f*** off, 'cause if the state authorities involved in this case have the same motives as the folks I know, they're gonna eat you alive in court if you try to spew forth that ignorant anti-state crap. And to stay OT with respect to guns, many state employees, not just LEO's, regularly participate in gun activities and can shoot circles around most of the tripe spewers on this thread, both literally and in the legal sense.
So there.
Rant off.