Concealed carry at church?

[truckemup97]

I saw this story and it made me wonder how churches around the country deal with CCW.

Churches prepare for concealed carry - www.nbc26.com

My church is a large downtown church of a familiar denomination. There are stickers on most doors, the pistol in a circle with a line drawn through it. I've been going there for over 20 years, and I'm not sure exactly when they showed up. I asked one of the associate pastors about them and he said don't worry about it. A few days later, I got a letter in the mail giving me "permission" to CCW in the church. We have an armed, uniformed security force, but in such a large church, will they be in the right place at the right time?

Churches aren't exempt from violence. One of our large churches employed janitors from a nearby halfway house for a while. That stopped when one of the parolees raped and murdered a secretary who had stayed late to finish a project. Everyone knows about the Colorado incident where a guy walked in and started shooting. I also remember, when growing up, some fairly questionable people coming into our small church during the week looking for a handout.

So how does your church, synagogue, mosque or other place of worship handle CCW?

 

[snowman]

Mine has a no-CCW sign posted on one of the entrances. One of these days I want to address the issue with one or more of the elders, all of whom are friends of mine.

Andy

 

[cass]

Our preacher carries. The issue of CC at our church will never be a problem as most carry anyway. Love TEXAS.

 

[35Rem]

I have started carrying and taken on a security role in the nursery department, as no one else does. We had a "non" incident that prompted this. Nothing happened, but could have very easily. Guy was high as a kite on pain meds, looking for the next dose. Literally looking for cash to pick up a prescription. WAKE UP CALL!

 

[Jitterbug]

I'm not to far from the Church in the Springs and as a matter of fact was sitting with the Pastor and my family wondering about the shooting at Ywam the night before, thinking to myself would I be prepared if the guy walked into my church and started shooting?

Which is exactly what was happening at that moment 50 miles away.

We have lot's of LEO's at my church a few even in uniform before/after shifts.

However Church security is really laid back and the majority of the folks don't even know it exists in the form of off duty, retired LEO and CCW civilians.

The head of church security is a former LEO from a large metro agency and he encourages civilian CCW, now and again he'll have meetings inviting civilians so the LEO's know who's who.

Basic rule is let the LEO's handle anything and provide backup if needed...that is if they are on site, the civilian CCW is a fallback position of last resort.

I read that MSNBC article and the Wisconsin's Official's response, all I can say is it's a free country, good luck to that.

What with Columbine tragedy and the shooting at the Colorado Springs church, and the two very different outcome of the two events, it's evident that someone, anyone with a lawfully used weapon could and did prevent a huge tragedy.

 

[BE Mike]

I have started carrying and taken on a security role in the nursery department, as no one else does. We had a "non" incident that prompted this. Nothing happened, but could have very easily. Guy was high as a kite on pain meds, looking for the next dose. Literally looking for cash to pick up a prescription. WAKE UP CALL!

I suppose the rationale behind a no CCW sign where there is a security force present is that it reduces the confusion and chances that the wrong people get shot. I personally think that is a fallacy.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Legally, a non-issue in MA.

 

[J. W.]

You'll find me in church every Sunday with my 442 in my pocket.

I live in a small southern WV town and I can't imagine a church being posted. There's nothing to handle or think about, its a non-issue. Of course we don't have any massive churches around here. We've got about 80 or 100 regulars at my church and were one of the "big" ones.

 

[keith44spl]

This very subject came up as the foremost topic during an in-service 'Response to Active Shooter' training.

Churches are not except from acts of violence.

I was talking to the Pastor of a small local Church located near an interstate highway....
He tells me, "Oh yes, all our Deacons carry...We've been robbed several time.
We'll let them take the offering (collection) but not any of the congregation."

As a lawman, if something happens at our Church, folks will look to me.

Will I be prepared to sever and protect those folks?

You Bet I Will.

Su Amigo,
Dave

Then said he unto them,
But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip:
and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

 

[klondike]

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?

 

[truckemup97]

We have lot's of LEO's at my church a few even in uniform before/after shifts.

Growing up, we had an OHP officer who was a member of our church. If he was on shift on Sunday morning, and all was quiet, he would take his "lunch hour" during the service and come to church. I noticed several times that his holster was empty while in church. I guess he left his weapon in the car, thinking it would be disrespectful to carry in church. I don't feel it's disrespectful; I look at it as answering the call to be prepared to care for my brothers and sisters.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Growing up, we had an OHP officer who was a member of our church. If he was on shift on Sunday morning, and all was quiet, he would take his "lunch hour" during the service and come to church. I noticed several times that his holster was empty while in church. I guess he left his weapon in the car, thinking it would be disrespectful to carry in church. I don't feel it's disrespectful; I look at it as answering the call to be prepared to care for my brothers and sisters.

Actually, I agree with you. However, in my faith, it would appear that the proper practice is to conceal it, at least under some circumstances. Since open carry seems to be frowned on in MA anyway, I guess I don't have to worry about making that decision.

 

[Bombsaway]

The staff at our church encourages any member with a valid permit to carry during regular services and activities. Discretely, of course, as not to scare the sheep.

 

[truckemup97]

Actually, I agree with you. However, in my faith, it would appear that the proper practice is to conceal it, at least under some circumstances. Since open carry seems to be frowned on in MA anyway, I guess I don't have to worry about making that decision.

No, I certainly wouldn't open carry in church. The OHP officer I was referencing was in uniform at the time.

 

[Steve in Vermont]

Don't ask, don't tell. And in this case it works.

 

[keith44spl]

Growing up, we had an OHP officer who was a member of our church. If he was on shift on Sunday morning, and all was quiet, he would take his "lunch hour" during the service and come to church. I noticed several times that his holster was empty while in church. I guess he left his weapon in the car, thinking it would be disrespectful to carry in church. I don't feel it's disrespectful; I look at it as answering the call to be prepared to care for my brothers and sisters.

Truckem,

Yep, that's pretty much common practice amount here for uniform officers during a Church service.

When dressed out in uniform I just took my gun belt off...Kept my conceded bug with me.

Sometimes visit the funural home sans gunbelt also....

Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[biggs357]

I conceal to church every sunday,either a Glock 22 or S&W 686 .357.Both conceal just fine,btw way i don't hug and that saves me from being found out.

 

[LHS]

I attend a large Church with 500 or so attending each service (I'm guessing). With all that "collections" each Sunday, it would be silly on their part to post no CCW, along with unsafe IMO. I usually carry my 442 anyway (the wife doesn't know it though!).

 

[captorquewrench]

I leave mine at home. I have a huggy church. I don't know how I'd get to my .380 through all the vestments anyway...

But I have a long drive to church, about an hour, and some of it through not nice areas. I would like to be able to at least carry to church and leave it in my office properly locked and secured if I had to not have it on me in worship. I don't just worry about in church, but my drive to "work" (same as going to school, I suppose...*sigh* if we had savvy teachers carrying on campus I'd feel a lot better)

However, think how fewer mistakes my choir would make knowing if I had it on me

 

[Rule 303]

I wouldn't attend a Church with a posted 30.06 sign.
God wouldn't want me to.

Rule 303