Do You Carry Concealed into your Church?

[jamesinalaska]

15 years ago I might have thought that carrying a concealed firearm with me into church would have been . . . I don't know, unorthodox, maybe, but now-a-days when my family and I enter the meeting house I am usually armed.

I am concerned about our churches (and worship places in general) becoming the targets of individuals wanting to make a point. Likewise, I know that many larger churches ask their ushers to come armed.

What do THR members think?

 

[Redstate]

Yes, every week

 

[Jackal]

Cleanliness is next to gunliness...

 

[DeepSouth]

Not always but yes, sometimes I do.

 

[buflow]

I am retired with a law enforcement background. My pastor has asked if I will carry anytime I am at the church or any church functions. The last local Saturday gun show I attended looked like our church men's prayer breakfast, so many were there.

 

[preachnhunt]

Yes. I am the pastor and we are in the process of an overall security review with the police department,which has included a discussion of establishing an armed security team made up of church members.

 

[chicharrones]

Yes.

However, during the week when most of the churches have a school in session, no.

 

[jcwit]

No, not in my church, our church is also a school thereby making it highly illegal.

Not worth losing my permit to carry over.

Same as a post office.

 

[longknife12]

Yes, I am also on a church security team! I kinda look at it a gate sentinel.
Dan

 

[Ash]

I don't, but another deacon who is a retired jeweler does.

 

[edwardware]

You might have some trouble getting folks to answer so particular a question in public on the interwebs. . .

Just sayin'.

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

Yes I do and so do a couple of other church members.

 

[X-Rap]

I carry in church when I attend. There are many states that for some reason don't allow or have huge stipulations regarding church carry.

 

[gunship]

I carry in church as do many other members. The pastor we have now as well as our previous pastor carried.

 

[GEM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Colorado_YWAM_and_New_Life_shootings

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisconsin_Sikh_temple_shooting

This answers the questions. Worship bans were based on a deliberate strategy to interfere with carry. One point was the emotional - the place is holy, your deity will protect you, you insult your deity, blah, blah. But this was to make it hard to carry and decrease the incentive to carry or pass carry bills. All laid out by antis way back when.

 

[X-Rap]

Of course the anti's are behind it and their intent is to just put up more bars for the carrier to hurdle. In reality there shouldn't be but a very few areas that an honest person with a gun shouldn't be able to carry including bars, county fairs and sporting events.
In most any prohibited location you will find strong anti gun sentiments behind the law.

 

[herrwalther]

I don't go to church but if I did, yes I would carry. My wife's uncle is a prominent lawyer in Florida and carries a customized 1911. He has been a staunch advocate in favor of Temple carry.

 

[old lady new shooter]

Out here regular people can't get a concealed carry permit. However, at the class I attended one of the instructors was an LAPD firearms instructor and I asked him specifically whether a person could bring their firearm to services in a legal manner and put it on after arriving, he said as long as the pastor gives permission it's allowed. So that's how you can help protect your congregation here, you just have to arrive a little earlier.

My personal opinion is that it is a very good idea. If you have the ability to save innocent lives you should certainly not handicap yourself from being able to do so should the need arise.

 

[CoRoMo]

Yep.

At the church we attend, almost every Sunday we are informed about one or more 'odd' individuals to keep an eye on.

It's a big enough church that an incident is not a matter of if, but when.

 

[Uncle Richard]

We highly encourage someone to carry just in case one of the snakes gets loose in the crowd……....just a joke for us Pentecostals.

 

[Lycidas Janwor]

Yes, I also have permission from the church elders to do so. In essence, the church has no problem with me cc and the permission doc. is there for my protection. That is, if I ever have to reveal I'm carrying, the state can do nothing because I have permission from church leadership.

So, if you want to carry while in church, I'd let the church leadership know and give you the ok to do so. This is for your protection from the state.

 

[daboyleroy]

Carry


Yep n have CWP
Preacher does n several deacons

Our insurance for the church requires us to have a certain number at certain places within the church

 

[jcwit]

So, if you want to carry while in church, I'd let the church leadership know and give you the ok to do so. This is for your protection from the state.

Will not work if the church also is a school, treading into not only State law but Federal law as well.

Here in Indiana one can carry onto school property, but can not leave vehicle. Also can not leave firearm in vehicle and leave it locked up.

 

[Sam1911]

In reality there shouldn't be but a very few areas that an honest person with a gun shouldn't be able to carry including bars, county fairs and sporting events.

Uh what?

 

[Sam1911]

Will not work if the church also is a school, treading into not only State law but Federal law as well.

It can, but that depends on your state's permitting. It isn't against federal law to carry at a school if you are carrying in a state which has issued you a license to carry which allows you to.

(You can't carry in a school in any other state, even if they "reciprocate" your state's permit or license.)