Locked and loaded at church

[Desertdog]

("Shooting Back", Biblical defense of bearing arms by man who fired on terrorists attacking church)

Locked and loaded at church
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/letters.asp

With reference to "Shooting Back", http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53130 ,
and the question about defending your church from a terrorist attack, there are lot of American churches that are pretty well-protected.

I am an active member at a large, conservative, evangelical church that is in a "redneck" "red state" location. We have several law enforcement officers (and several others) that are packin' heat. In fact, given the propensity of these friends of mine for large-caliber weapons, like .357, 10mm and .45, any terrorists attacking our congregation would probably be outnumbered and outgunned, except for rocket launchers. In our parking lot are several cars with items in their trunks with calibers like .223, .243., .30-06 and .303 – many of them fitted with scopes. Not only that, but we are surrounded by non-churchgoing neighbors who are sympathetic to us, unsympathetic to anything resembling a terrorist and, shall we say, are a sort of militia. They definitely have any potential terrorists outgunned.

I have been expecting to see a terrorist attack on a church or two in the U.S. If the terrorists have that in mind, they probably need to give some serious thought to knowing the area first. If they hit any redneck churches, they will probably be the laughingstock of hell when they arrive, shot full of holes and wondering what hit them.

Name and location withheld

 

[sumpnz]

I've met Charl. Very interesting and humble (and humbling) man.

Before having a chance to spend 2-3 hours one on one with him I'd been wavering on whether I should pack to church. Since meeting him I've been sufficiently inspired to pack whenever I can to church (particularly since one member is going through a divorce with a guy that is "falling off the wagon" and has, or at least access to numerous guns). I've yet to speak directly with the pastor about it, but based on some conversations we've had I doubt he'd object.

 

[AZRickD]

We have several law enforcement officers (and several others) that are packin' heat.

As we know, some states have outlawed carry in certain venues, including churches (somehow uncaring about what these same liberal gun-phobes like to refer to as "Separation of Church and State"). A safe working environment for bad guys if ever there was one.

In fact, given the propensity of these friends of mine for large-caliber weapons, like .357, 10mm and .45,...would probably be outnumbered and outgunned, except for rocket launchers.

If history is any guide, should this happen again, either in the US, England, Germany, etc, they could be expected to come in great force: 15, 30, even fifty Jihadists. They will be bringing rifles and subguns and explosives, some of that used in the initial encounter.

In our parking lot are several cars with items in their trunks with calibers like .223, .243., .30-06 and .303

Then they will be out of reach and quite possibly useless unless those few who can escape are the ones with keys to the cars with useful "homeland defense" weapons.

we are surrounded by non-churchgoing neighbors who are sympathetic to us,

They'll be on the wrong side of the barracade. The bad guys will hole up inside the church and set charges as those on the outside get around to coming up with a plan. The police, when they bother to show up, will discourage the church congregation from re-entering the church. This will give the bad guys more time to fortify. In the end, many inside the church will be murdered and tossed outside...just before the explosives are touched off.

Not many churches are ready to consider that kind of contingency. They would consider it "unchristian." However, should churches be attacked once or twice in the future, that would change things.

But after 2008 with the potential of a Demo Prez (name one), and a Demo Congress, the congregations might be fighting back with single-shot rim-fires, and/or seeing their taxes raised to hire "professionals" from among the LEO community.

Rick

 

[distra]

I understand your zealous and I agree that being armed in church would help IF they started shooting however, those cowards usually bomb instead of shooting up the place. More likely scenario would be a drive-up car bomb and in that case unless centuries are posted outside to stop the threat I doubt being armed will help. Just my $0.02.

 

[sumpnz]

Well, that's not a reason to disarm yourself. In the case of the St James Massacre the terrorists came in shooting and throwing grenades.

Besides, it's not just terrorists that you might have to defend youself against. There's been a few church shootings where a person perhaps blamed the pastor, or other members for some problem in their life (e.g. spouse left them, loss of a job, etc) and chose to shoot up the place in "revenge". And occasionally people do get robbed on the way to/from church.

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

Just be VERY careful if a church in question (provided that churches are not already off-limits) also operates any kind of licensed school or day-care.

Indiana does not forbid carrying concealed in churches, but does forbid carrying in and around state licensed schools and day-care facilities, both of which my church has.

I just realized yesterday that when I stopped in to see a pastor friend at church, that I should have disarmed. Wish I would've thought of that on Wednesday.

Let us all not allow our own ignorance to cause us any more problems than the gov't does.