Do You Carry Concealed into your Church?

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I would suggest that Eph 6:11 is clearly communicated as an analogy, and I wouldn't attempt to use it to justify armed defense by interpreting it as literal instruction to carry armor & sword.

But in 1Cor13:4-7, I find a clear principal stated, that to protect others is an expression of love. And so I consider taking steps to be prepared to protect others, via. armed defense, is also an act of love.

1Cor13
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
 
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I believe that the person who guides our church was divinely appointed, its a large and world wide religion. We have been asked not to carry at church. Since I believe that those who give direction for my church receive divine inspiration I take the admonition as if God himself asked me not too.
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Though I personally subscribe to the classic reformation doctrines of Sola Scriptura (the Bible alone is the authoritative source for all judgments made regarding practice and faith) and the priesthood of the believer (as individual believers, we are responsible and accountable to seek and understand God's instruction in the Bible and act upon it accordingly), I very much appreciate and respect this perspective.
 
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i don't go to church, but if i did, i would carry, like i do everywhere else, contributing to the safety of the people around me as all responsible gun owners do.
 
Yes, although historically we would open carry:
 

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Yes, when the wife drags me to church I carry.
Usually OWB under my sport coat.

In Arkansas you can carry with the minister's approval, which I received as soon as the bill was passed allowing it.
 
Yes I carry in Church. As far as I know, the only entities that know it are me, the wife, and God. It is concealed like the permit says. I have no reason for anyone else to know unless trouble comes. At that point I bet there would be people who are glad I had it.
 
Ned Flanders ....

I'm no Ned Flanders or regular church goer but I honestly wouldn't feel the need to pack heat during mass or services.
Many of the church locations & non dominational super-churches around me already have off duty troopers, patrol deputies or small town PD officers doing traffic-parking enforcement. They can stand by for any trouble or problems.
First aid or fire-rescue seems more realistic than lethal force or gunplay.

I went to a veterans BBQ/event over Memorial Day weekend & saw 2 county fire trucks going code as they came onto the event property as I was leaving, :uhoh: .

Rusty
 
In the winter of 2005-2006 a church was held up and robbed in Churchville, MD traumatizing its members. Maryland's answer was to post state troopers in the church during services. In Maryland the only way (typically) you can legally conceal carry a firearm is to protect cash when you transfer from a business to a bank. I have not heard of anyone who was ever granted a permit to conceal carry otherwise.
It is inconceivable in the state of Virginia where I now live to ever hear of church members being held up at gunpoint. I will never reside in Maryland again.
 
jamesinalaska said:
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?
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I have no problem with it whatsoever. Jesus armed His disciples before sending them out once, and before He went to the Garden of Gethsemane where He was betrayed.

So I carry in church because where I live, it's legal to do so. I'd like to see it become legal everywhere.

I've been doing it for a solid year now.
 
Heathen here.... every time I've met with groups of other Heathens, either for rituals or for studying, everyone is armed. I don't think I've ever seen someone come to a meeting unarmed. When I moved to Tennessee, the very first ceremony the local group invited me to, was a weapon-naming thing. Everything from handguns, to swords and axes were present.
 
Even with a concealed pistol license, it is illegal in MI. There is one loop hole. If the church hires you as a uniformed armed guard, which for liability most won't, or you are an off duty police officer, etc. then you may carry. All public meeting places are banned
 
Always...I would rather host a funeral for one than attend one for many. God has enabled me to have the wherewithal to use the gift as necessary. Christians and Jews are being slaughtered in many other places, some day the violence will again rear it's head again and churches are where infidels are sure to congregate.
 
I respect those who have a deep belief in God.. I really do but there have been numerous occasions where a Bad Guy (BG) walked into a church and opened fire.

As someone has mentioned earlier, Churches (and anywhere a large number of people gather) are soft targets.. A lot of damage in short amount of time=Big press and in reality that is what they want most of the time.

I know it sucks but this is the world we live in now. It is not what it was like 40 years ago.

If I was in church and that situation started to unfold, There would be at least one individual that would stand up and put 3 rounds into the BG without hesitation. I would look at it as a test from God and I passed.

I do not believe God would feel disrespected knowing that lives were saved and folks can go home and pray with their families. They would be thankful they live another day.
 
The pastor and deacons of my church met and decided let members who they knew had a CCW know they wouldn't mind if they carried just be very discreet. I carry and I know two of the deacons carry and a couple of retired police officers carry. So yeah I carry every service.
 
Timmybosko said:
I know it sucks but this is the world we live in now. It is not what it was like 40 years ago.
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The murder rate per 100,000 population was almost double in the USA in 1975 vs 2015. The vast media coverage of every holdup and home invasion distorts the reality.

We are much more violence free today.

See this graph of 1950-2013 USA murder rates.
 
I sometimes do and sometimes don't. Its a big distraction to me sometimes because I don't want it showing to the pew member behind me.
 
With the right gun,in the right holster, carried in the right location, no one in the church will ever know.

I carry my S&W 340PD .38/.357 snubby in a pocket holster inside my suit jacket pocket.

sw340pd.jpg
 
Redwind, I guess I wasn't clear.. I was mainly referring to mass shootings like churches, schools etc.. Not so much home invasions/burglaries but yea according to your info.. We are doing better in the violence category these days.. Was not aware of that ..

Thanks
 
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