Concealed carry at church?

Xfuzz said:
I attend a small Texas church.
When we stand to sing or pray and everyone sits down
it sounds like someone is playin the bongo drums with the barrels
and stocks hittin the pews.
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Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, and let the people say, "Amen!"
 
My church has no problem with people who have CCLs carrying in the church. Some of the pastoral staff carry regularly. The church employs a "don't ask/don't tell" policy for members who carry.
 
LennyLames said:
I've envisioned someone screaming "allahu akbar" meaning (their) "god is great," followed by the sounds of gunfire and screaming. First move is to get the family down on the floor, then I'd move away from them, in case I have to engage. I haven't really decided whether I should join the fray right away, or stay in hiding, waiting as the sounds of gunfire draw near, waiting for a better opportunity to engage. Therein lies a moral dilemma. Should I just protect the family, or everyone else?
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If jihadis (always assume there are more than one) attack your church, their biggest advantage is surprise and quick action. Your ONLY option is to commit violence against them as soon and as extreme and as quickly as you possibly can. That is what will save you, your family and innocent others.
 
truckemup97 said:
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?
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My church has not officially addressed the matter. I'm sure both of my pastors would be uncomfortable with the matter. As a matter of principal I don't bring my weapon to church. Call me old fashioned, but I do not enter the sanctuary armed. I hold it as a place of peace and if someone decides to come and kill me there, then I shall die in peace in the house of the Lord. I have entered my church's basement kitchen armed to help out briefly in a meal preparation and even then felt sketchy about the idea. (The ask for assistance was kind of dropped on me and I don't leave a my handgun in the car in that neighborhood)
 
Anywhere I go with my family. I carry. I will protect my kids and wife. That includes services on Sunday. And as for someone who wondered about getting the gun out under the vestments... Why? Shoot thru them.

Things tend to go very badly very quick when they happen at churches. Meetings, services, etc... They've all had violent interactions. And it will get worse before it ever gets better. So I will protect my family.
 
Great comments and thoughts on this topic. Yes I carry at church, as do some others in our congragation. Being a small country church, it does seem unlikely that violence would happen--but thats all the more reason to be prepared. So I'll carry concealed and pray for peace. Karl
 
This is difficult question for me. I feel so WEIRD sitting in church with a 642 strapped to my ankle, singing Amazing Grace ...

My church has no signs one way or the other, its like - out of sight, out of mind. They act like its an individual choice (which it is - duh), but it bugs the _ hell _ out of me. I have CCW for my state and MANY others but I get to thinking it must be me going NUTS about this - and then a news story about some guy going crazy in church and shooting everyone in sight ...

Soo, I'll sit and sing Amazing Grace with a 642 strapped to my ankle ...

It is, what it is ...
 
I work uniformed part-time at two different churches in sketchy neighborhoods. They were having problems with car thefts, purse snatches, & robberries while folks were inside trying to worship. We patrol the lots until they collect the offering & then go inside & watch through one way glass. One chuch has a security group that checks doors & hallways & most of them carry concealled. It's sad that folks can't go to church without worrying about being robbed or having their car stolen or their purse snatched while trying to pray.
 
Just for the sake of it, learn how your pastor really feels about guns. Ask him to go shooting with you. See if he goes.

Actually guns have long been instrumental in bringing folks to God. I have even heard a number of people doing some serious praying after having been shot.
 
We go to a very large church and I've never seen any signs that said no firearms. I think it's one those don't ask/don't tell type deals.

Either way, I carry 24-7 where ever legal. Church is one of those places and concealed is concealed. ;)
 
I'm a "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition and We'll All Stay Alive" Type. As I said earlier, I know God wants me to Carry.

Rule 303
 
We attend a tiny, country church (25-30 people on a good Sunday). There is some hugging after the service. I think some attendees might think I was nuts (as in very odd) if they felt a CC weapon on me.

I DO carry around the farm on 4 wheelers and tractors and usually exposed as opposed to concealed. If anyone has noticed, they haven't mentioned anything about it, so maybe I'm wrong about what their reaction would be.
 
I don't view carrying to church any different than carrying to the movie theater, to the grocery store, or any other place. There is no force field at the front door that prevents violent people from entering to do violent things to good people.

I intend to do the very best job I can at defending my family and myself, and that means carrying everywhere I go(everywhere thats legal anyway). I don't carry for political reasons, because I can, or to show off, I carry so that I'm able to react accordingly to a violent encounter. There is evil in this world, and there are times in which the brutal application of force is required to stop it, even in a place of worship.
 
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I meet more and more people that carry at church and their church actually has an emergency plan in place.

Some of these people are assigned the same seat each and every Sunday. They are positioned strategically.

And for a local church in an old run down part of town, I installed one of these on the bottom of a pew.
http://www.amsecusa.com/Defense_Vault/

They plan on at least 3 more.

May seem extreme. But this church has had some problems. Many of them in broad daylight.
 
oldman45 said:
Just for the sake of it, learn how your pastor really feels about guns. Ask him to go shooting with you. See if he goes.

Actually guns have long been instrumental in bringing folks to God. I have even heard a number of people doing some serious praying after having been shot.
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Haha we found out exactly how my pastor feels about guns when the youth group invited him to go to paintball with them. He stated that as it promoted the use of guns and he can't stand guns, he would abstain. The way he said it seemed to indicate that he disapproved of the church allowing the youth group to participate in such activity.
 
Springfeildkid585 said:
Haha we found out exactly how my pastor feels about guns when the youth group invited him to go to paintball with them. He stated that as it promoted the use of guns and he can't stand guns, he would abstain. The way he said it seemed to indicate that he disapproved of the church allowing the youth group to participate in such activity.
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Fascinating (as Spock would say).

Spock - Fascinating! - YouTube

Seriously, it is interesting that a pastor would tolerate something that he doesn't (morally?) agree with.
 
I am a Bible Believer, and I believe that my daily conduct should not differ from my conduct while attending Church. My daily practice is to be armed, unless prohibited legally. Usually, I'll carry my PPK when attending Church. It's the one that was with me at my wedding.
 
jtpur said:
...one of the Church ladies said...God does not like guns....I said I know, but he loves cops.
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I am not at all sure that G-d doesn't like guns, or those who use them in a righteous manner. The Old Testament seems to support self defense more than the New Testament, however.

I would add that in addition to what has been said already, one might choose to carry a gun in a house of worship not so much because of a concern about safety inside that place but because the other options are unacceptable:

1. Travel unarmed to and from worship and any places one might need to stop before or after.

2. Leave a firearm in the car, so that some unarmed criminal who chooses to break into the car or steal the car will become and armed criminal.
 
Photoman44 said:
Fascinating (as Spock would say).

Spock - Fascinating! - YouTube

Seriously, it is interesting that a pastor would tolerate something that he doesn't (morally?) agree with.
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We had already received approval from the board to use youth funds on it. There's not really much he can do about it. Our pastor doesn't wield the power to stop us. We don't ask him permission, we ask the board.
 
I got to say it. Been trying to resist but many here feel gun ownership is a Right and along with that the Right to Carry.

I agree with this.

However, the United Methodist Church does not think a civilian has the right to own guns and has sent a letter pleading to Congress to ban private ownership of guns.

Rather than shooting rapists, it is women`s Christian duty to submit to rape, according to an article by Reverend Allen Brockway, editor of the official magazine of the Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church. He poses the rhetorical question, "Is the Robber My Brother?" and Reverend Brockway answers, "Yes."

They also feel a man should not harm intruders.

Other denominations are also aligned with this position. I am not being negative toward any religion. Simply stating fact. If someone, some group or body of people had a certain belief that was being forced upon the rest of us, we would write letters, make calls and such. I do not see any organized protest against denominations.

Again, this is not a religious post and not meant to inflame but rather inform.
 
Well we all know some folks don't like firearms, they don't like the uses of firearms and they don't care much for folks that own or use 'em.

I just recently visited a small southern Baptist church where they sponsored a youth and young adult shooting and hunting program.
Their first concealed carry class had about 30 of the congregation and neighbors in attendance.

To those in the clergy, I say, "It's not what's on a man's hip...It's what's in his heart that counts."


Just from where I'm standin'...

Su Amigo,
Dave
 
oldman45 said:
I got to say it. Been trying to resist but many here feel gun ownership is a Right and along with that the Right to Carry.

I agree with this.

However, the United Methodist Church does not think a civilian has the right to own guns and has sent a letter pleading to Congress to ban private ownership of guns.

Rather than shooting rapists, it is women`s Christian duty to submit to rape, according to an article by Reverend Allen Brockway, editor of the official magazine of the Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church. He poses the rhetorical question, "Is the Robber My Brother?" and Reverend Brockway answers, "Yes."

They also feel a man should not harm intruders.

Other denominations are also aligned with this position. I am not being negative toward any religion. Simply stating fact. If someone, some group or body of people had a certain belief that was being forced upon the rest of us, we would write letters, make calls and such. I do not see any organized protest against denominations.

Again, this is not a religious post and not meant to inflame but rather inform.
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Can you provide a link to this information? I do not doubt it, however; as a United Methodist, I am quite angry to hear that someone has claimed to speak for the church as a whole on the matter. I know several firearms enthusiasts, owners and carriers in my own congregation.
 
Springfeildkid585 said:
Can you provide a link to this information? I do not doubt it, however; as a United Methodist, I am quite angry to hear that someone has claimed to speak for the church as a whole on the matter. I know several firearms enthusiasts, owners and carriers in my own congregation.
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I would also like to know where an individual claims the right to speak for the United Methodist Church. If the good Reverend Brockway did make such statements, he is in direct contradiction to the Book of Discipline which is the collective guiding principles and official position of the UMC. It may be his opinion, but it is NOT the position of the United Methodist Church!
 
Springfeildkid585 said:
Can you provide a link to this information? I do not doubt it, however; as a United Methodist, I am quite angry to hear that someone has claimed to speak for the church as a whole on the matter. I know several firearms enthusiasts, owners and carriers in my own congregation.
Click to expand...

Sure;
http://www.gcorr.org/atf/cf/{9412EE...77}/Statement_SupremeCourt_Handgun_Ruling.pdf

Please note that the site shows it on the UMC letterhead.

You can google "Is the Robber My Brother?" using the quotation marks and Allen Brockway about the rape remark.

It should also be mentioned that if someone submits, as suggested by the UMC it becomes consensual and therefore not a crime.
 
CelticSire said:
I would also like to know where an individual claims the right to speak for the United Methodist Church. If the good Reverend Brockway did make such statements, he is in direct contradiction to the Book of Discipline which is the collective guiding principles and official position of the UMC. It may be his opinion, but it is NOT the position of the United Methodist Church!
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Actually it is the position of the UMC. They are the ones that began Coalition to Stop Gun Violence and calling on Congress to ban private gun ownership. I assure you the UMC is against guns and all their pastorial leaders has to take the stand of the Church.

Please fully read the following links:

Gun Violence

Gun Control

Coalition to Stop Gun Violence - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

To quote wikipedia: In 1974, the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society formed the National Coalition to Ban Handguns,[1] a group of thirty religious, labor, and nonprofit organizations with the goal of addressing "the high rates of gun-related crime and death in American society" by licensing gun owners, registering firearms, and banning private ownership of handguns with "reasonable limited exceptions" for "police, military, licensed security guards, antique dealers who have guns in unfireable condition, and licensed pistol clubs where firearms are kept on the premises."[2][3] In the 1980s and 1990s, the coalition grew to 44 member groups.[4] In 1989, the National Coalition to Ban Handguns changed its name to the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, in part because the group felt that "assault rifles" as well as handguns, should be outlawed.[5] Today, the coalition comprises 48 member organization.

So it is the position of the UMC and they say they speak for their 11 million members.
 
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AGAIN, I am not against any church

I am not being anti church, anti denomination this is not a thread against churches or people's faith. This is a gun forum and all I am doing is disussing those against gun ownership and carry. We do the same thing when it comes to politicians, businesses and groups that take a public stand against guns.

The only reason I mentioned this in the first place was due to some talk of guns and churches.
 
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