Concealed carry at church?

[GKC]

Teddy Roosevelt concerned some women sitting behind him in church when the butt of his revolver became visible. Can you imagine a president doing that in this century?

We would be so much better off if they had the mindset to do so! Instead of being anti-gun, it would be nice for the leader of our country to be pro-American, and pro-freedom, for a change.

Having said that, it is a sad commentary on the state of the world today that it is even a discussion of the need to be armed in church! Such IS the reality, though...and the decline of this world is so evidenced.

 

[venomballistics]

We would be so much better off if they had the mindset to do so! Instead of being anti-gun, it would be nice for the leader of our country to be pro-American, and pro-freedom, for a change.

Having said that, it is a sad commentary on the state of the world today that it is even a discussion of the need to be armed in church! Such IS the reality, though...and the decline of this world is so evidenced.

for me it isnt the "in" church part though Im aware that it could become a target in a holy war ... thats the exception really.
its that walk from the church door to the car door and the logistical impossibility of getting a piece to materialize in a holster as you pass through the door that puts iron on my side more than anything else.
in the past few months Ive found myself walking people to their cars after choir practice with genuine concern for one reason or another.
its necessary despite anything I may feel about the practice. Thus I am a pistol packin choir boy.

 

[shamelessinct]

As a LEO, I never leave home unarmed. Several years ago, the Pastor began his sermon by quoting Judges 15:15, about Samson slaying 1000 people with the jawbone of an ***. He then looked directly down at me from the pulpit and said "or in this day and age, with a semi automatic pistol!" I smiled. (But several weeks later when a woman from the congregation was off her meds and someone needed to call EMS and escort her to the ambulance, who did the Pastor turn to?)
Thinking that evil will not happen in church is denial. To quote Col. Dave Grossman, "Denial kills you twice. It kills you once, at your moment of truth when you are not physically prepared: You didn't bring your gun; you didn't train. Your only defense was wishful thinking. Hope is not a strategy. Denial kills you a second time because even if you do physically survive, you are psychologically shattered by fear, helplessness, horror and shame at your moment of truth."

 

[venomballistics]

My former brother-in-law started almost the same conversation with me. "I hunt deer," he said, "but why does anyone need an AK-47?"

I was in the Army and didn't even have a center fire rifle at the time, and I must have ticked him off when I said, "The Second Amendment isn't about deer hunting."

He started going on and on about what people "needed." He got pretty upset when I asked him why he needed a fully-loaded Lincoln Town Car when my Chevelle station wagon provided all the room, amenities, and performance that any reasonable person needed. He stuck his nose in the air and told me it wasn't the same thing at all. What a moron. Must be related to your preacher man.

ECS

I'd have to agree with your brother ... sorry ...
but why would any one need an AK 47 when we have the FN FAL and AR10

 

[bharner]

... The survey was run on some other denominations, and it looks like the most anti-gun was the Mennonites. Interestingly, they also had the widest spectrum (pretty evenly spread actually) of political beliefs too, which implied to me they are the least politically-activist within the church...

Go figure, the pacifists are anti gun... as to their political leanings a lot of the midwestern ones are too busy trying to keep farms going to worry much about politics (my in laws are Mennonite farmers in OK and they're more concerned with the drought than who is in office) The ones who don't have as much to worry about seem to have some heavy political activity. Heck, one of the winners of this years Nobel peace prize is an alumnus of a Mennonite university.

 

[38-44HD45]

While I avoid churches except for weddings and funerals, and carry when I do go there, several of my CHL students have been ministers. Some of the churches around here are not as soft targets as one might think.

 

[Dominus_Lex]

Teddy Roosevelt concerned some women sitting behind him in church when the butt of his revolver became visible. Can you imagine a president doing that in this century?

Three of the ten presidents before him (including the one he served as VP for) had been assassinated. TR was not going to go down without a fight. He in fact said as much, having been quoted as saying if it had been him in the place of McKinley, "he would have shot back". But wait it gets better, it appears his nice Eleanor carried a pistol as First Lady of the US.

A Chance to Fight Back - Room for Debate - NYTimes.com

 

[walnutred]

In the area where I live you see a fair amount of Mennonite and Amish especially at flea markets and outdoor gun shows. Over the last 10 years I've watched their firearm buying habits change. At first all you saw them with was muzzle loaders. Then they started buying singles shot rifles and shotguns. Last couple years I've noticed them walking around with SKSs and the like. What they claim in polls is one thing but to me it looks like a number of them are preparing to defend the homestead.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

I'd have to agree with your brother (sic)... sorry ...
but why would any one need an AK 47 when we have the FN FAL and AR10

Why would you want one of those when you could have an M1A?

ECS

 

[elm_creek_smith]

Three of the ten presidents before him (including the one he served as VP for) had been assassinated. TR was not going to go down without a fight. He in fact said as much, having been quoted as saying if it had been him in the place of McKinley, "he would have shot back". But wait it gets better, it appears his nice Eleanor carried a pistol as First Lady of the US.

Wrong Roosevelt. FDR's wife was Eleanor.

ECS

 

[venomballistics]

Why would you want one of those when you could have an M1A?

ECS

good question ... I suppose I havnt thought about it much being a Tommy gun kinda guy

 

[Out West]

The main thing that discourages me from carrying at church is the heat. It's so darn at church that I can't keep a jacket on. If I do, I stand out like a sore thumb: it looks like somebody poured a bucket of water on my head. Then there are the "huggers" - those ladies, and sometimes even men, who want to show their love via embraces! I've learned to hold my arms low, so as to make them wrap their arms higher (I still get caught on this one - we've got some fast huggers!). Finally, if I'm setting in a pew or in Sunday school roasting like a pig on a spit, it make me wonder if I'm already condemned to hell. Like, maybe if I had more faith, the dang gun would not be necessary.

Shoot fuzzy - I'm a bit conflicted.

Out
West

 

[JM4151]

Not an issue in Catholic Church's in Pennsylvania. I have carried a gun to church for over 40 years. Their have been a few robberies too.

 

[Mphstiger1981]

The main thing that discourages me from carrying at church is the heat. It's so darn at church that I can't keep a jacket on. If I do, I stand out like a sore thumb: it looks like somebody poured a bucket of water on my head. Then there are the "huggers" - those ladies, and sometimes even men, who want to show their love via embraces! I've learned to hold my arms low, so as to make them wrap their arms higher (I still get caught on this one - we've got some fast huggers!). Finally, if I'm setting in a pew or in Sunday school roasting like a pig on a spit, it make me wonder if I'm already condemned to hell. Like, maybe if I had more faith, the dang gun would not be necessary.

Shoot fuzzy - I'm a bit conflicted.

Out
West

West,

Just a suggestion, if you do decide to carry in church. You might consider a version of the Smart Carry or the Thunderwear for deep concealment while in church. You would still have the ability to carry, but hopefully no one would be looking at your crotch or hugging you in such a way that you'd be worried about being "made" while in church.

 

[DanWesson41Fan]

Go ahead and wear it. You are doing the Lord's work protecting his flock as all hearken to hear the Holy Scriptures for guidance on His Day.

 

[P&R Fan]

The main thing that discourages me from carrying at church is the heat. It's so darn at church that I can't keep a jacket on. If I do, I stand out like a sore thumb: it looks like somebody poured a bucket of water on my head. Then there are the "huggers" - those ladies, and sometimes even men, who want to show their love via embraces! I've learned to hold my arms low, so as to make them wrap their arms higher (I still get caught on this one - we've got some fast huggers!). Finally, if I'm setting in a pew or in Sunday school roasting like a pig on a spit, it make me wonder if I'm already condemned to hell. Like, maybe if I had more faith, the dang gun would not be necessary.

Shoot fuzzy - I'm a bit conflicted.

Out
West

I addressed these concerns in post # 52 about the huggy people, and the holster I referenced, the Kramer Confidant shirt holster, is great in hot weather.
Jim

 

[Doug M.]

Since I too have no tolerance for heat, I avoid wearing coats as much as possible, so I appreciate that problem. I hate huggers generally, and I think it inconsiderate. I also think it inconsiderate to the other church goers to attend - the roof might fail, etc. That said - I use a Kramer pocket holster and a G33 a lot, so that I appear conspicuously unarmed. I'm also 6'2/230 and wear a 50 coat, so I have more ability to carry a bigger gun.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

Ankle holster. Nobody hugs your legs.

ECS

 

[everReady Rob]

Another option is a carry bag. Some small shoulder carry w/handle bags are available that very few notice and can blend in w/other things you may carry; Bible, church papers or the like. Some bags have a wrist strap that makes it pretty difficult to be separated from. Already mentioned is the ankle holster, I've done 'em all and they work for different situations.

Good luck.

 

[trauma1]

Teddy Roosevelt concerned some women sitting behind him in church when the butt of his revolver became visible. Can you imagine a president doing that in this century?

can u even ccw in dc? sad state!