Carry in church vs. church culture

-06 said:
Think I may have posted it here before but the Southern Baptist Convention just passed a resolution officially allowing CCP holders to carry in church concealed. At a Deacon's mtg. recently the delegate told us about the ruling. I chuckled and told them I had been carrying for ten years concealed and no one knew it. "Guns are for "go", not show".
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Hope it's true, but don't believe it. Reference?
 
-06 said:
Think I may have posted it here before but the Southern Baptist Convention just passed a resolution officially allowing CCP holders to carry in church concealed. At a Deacon's mtg. recently the delegate told us about the ruling. I chuckled and told them I had been carrying for ten years concealed and no one knew it. "Guns are for "go", not show".
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Is it binding to all Southern Baptist churches or does the church itself have the final say?
 
My "source" is in Florida on vacation. They will be back Sunday. Remind me and will get the publication for us to read. Sorry not to be able to find it using the search engines.
 
I thought the idea of CCW is that it is concealed. I have carried in church and as I intended ..no one knew it. I have been pulled over and told the officier I had a weapon and a CCW permit. One officier was frazzled that I did not have the permit in my hand..I keep my movement limited and my hands on the steering wheel to allow the officier a sense of control..it seems more important than the paperwork.

:wacko:
 
bigsurveyor said:
I thought the idea of CCW is that it is concealed. I have carried in church and as I intended ..no one knew it.
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That is true from an individual perspective, but what if your church was happy supporting Hunter Safety but seemed threatened if you suggested CCW classes? The issue is that the culture of a church - could be any organization - appears to have an instinctively negative reaction concerning the need to arm yourself for self defense. You are right that when legal you can and should carry wherever you worship/learn, but I'd like to influence our church's culture.
 
Two approaches to consider

There are two approaches to consider:

1. State Law. Some states specifically address the issue while others are silent. If your state's law regarding firearms at church is specific, you have no choice but to follow the law. In many states however, firearms in church is a topic on which state law is silent -- essentially leaving it up to the property owner. If your state's law is silent, then you can typically carry UNLESS the church has put out the word in its church bulletins, newsletter, has a sign on the front door and/or has made an announcement from the pulpit.

2. Discretion. Although I practice both open and concealed carry, I believe that discretion and common sense dictates concealed carry at church. Use common sense. If and when the time ever comes that you need to display your firearm because some nut job has arrived and is ready to conduct a mass killing, then you'll need to render your firearm out in the open as a life-saving tool. But until then I believe discretion requires concealment.
 
I CC at my church in GA all the time. It's currently illegal, but like someone mentioned earlier, because of what happened in that CO. church I now carry. My Exec Pastor knows and says he has no problem with it and hopes that more of us carry. A pastor in Thomaston, along with GaCarry.org, is sueing the state over this very issue. In the current law, as of the passage of SB 308, a permit carrier must advise church "supervision or management personnel" that he's carrying a weapon and must "explicitly follow sup's direction for the removing or storing or securing of said weapon." That's a bonafide gray area right there and I showed it to my Exec Pastor. He looked at it and said, "Secure it in your holster on your hip or in your pocket and leave it there unless you need it use it." I said, "I'll be glad to......:pleasantry:"
This case is currently in work and we in GA are anxiously awaiting the outcome.
 
Church CC

Pastors sometimes need to be reminded that they are often the primary target of ill intent. Having a member or two carry may save their lives and those of their congregation.
 
In Texas the law was changed last year on cc in churches. It is legal to carry in church unless the church properly posts otherwise. When the law changed, our church, by unanimous vote of the members, removed the prohibition of firearms on chuch property from the bylaws. Anyone with a concealed handgun license is free to carry at any of our services. I carry, as does our pastor, his sil and several other other members.

Armed members are scattered throughout the congregation and others patrol the parking lots during services as we are on the fringe of a bad area and have had cars broken into & property stolen during worship services in the past, but not since we started the patrols.
 
jreXD9 said:
He looked at it and said, "Secure it in your holster on your hip or in your pocket and leave it there unless you need it use it." I said, "I'll be glad to......:pleasantry:"
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Just to CYA.. It would be best if you had that in writing, in case things do not turn out as well as you expect in a situation..
 
Not being flippant but I'd sooner be judged by 12 than carried by 6. I would sooner stand in front of God telling him I was doing everything I could to stop the Evil, then tell him I was on my knees being executed. Evil prevails when good people do nothing. Choices, we all have choices. Not saying mine are any better then anyone else's. Just saying it the way (I) see it.
 
Regular_Joe said:
VA law states that state citizens can't carry into a "place of worship while a meeting for religious purposes is being held" unless the person has a "good and sufficient reason".

My church meets in a public school, so carrying is not a legal option. We are planning to move into a permanent location in the future so I am sure many folks will find that a "good and sufficient reason" is the safety of self and family.

However, our senior pastor - who often sets church culture - does not have a background that involves firearms nor is he comfortable even talking about the issue. I know folks will CC, but the attitude will remain negative towards the use of firearms for self defense.

For those that have been through this or that live in places where the church leadership is more 2A supportive, any suggestions on how this church culture can be influenced to be 2A-friendly?
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I have always thought it would be fun to organize a Range / Fellowship Event. I would like to think that it would help to remove fear or suspicion of firearms in those who were ignorant, as well as a chance to demonstrate the fact that you are competent with a firearm tho those who would be a fraid of having one in the facilities.

Our church recently had a bikers and bibles event, so I can't imagine how guns could be any more taboo.
 
devildave31 said:
I have always thought it would be fun to organize a Range / Fellowship Event. I would like to think that it would help to remove fear or suspicion of firearms in those who were ignorant, as well as a chance to demonstrate the fact that you are competent with a firearm tho those who would be a fraid of having one in the facilities.
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I recently did this, just for the purpose you stated. I invited about 10 guys out to a local outdoor range. I asked everyone to bring some food - one guy brought hotdogs, another a grill - we shared ammo, guns and lunch. I did this a couple of times and another local church asked me to host a range event for their men's group!

I ensure the range was organized, gave the safety briefing, made sure that everyone knew the safety rules - we had a great time.

This has brought out the members in the church that are interested in regularly getting together for a range day, and are the same guys that can start helping me to plan and hold shooting activities.
 
In SC Churches make money by having Turkey Shoots. My girlfriend got her CWP because the Church her sisters husband Preaches at was getting up a class to get their CWP's.
 
CCW Instructor said:
There are two approaches to consider:

1. State Law. Some states specifically address the issue while others are silent. If your state's law regarding firearms at church is specific, you have no choice but to follow the law. In many states however, firearms in church is a topic on which state law is silent -- essentially leaving it up to the property owner. If your state's law is silent, then you can typically carry UNLESS the church has put out the word in its church bulletins, newsletter, has a sign on the front door and/or has made an announcement from the pulpit.

2. Discretion. Although I practice both open and concealed carry, I believe that discretion and common sense dictates concealed carry at church. Use common sense. If and when the time ever comes that you need to display your firearm because some nut job has arrived and is ready to conduct a mass killing, then you'll need to render your firearm out in the open as a life-saving tool. But until then I believe discretion requires concealment.
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You are 100% wrong in that statement..... I always have a choice, everyone else does too....
 
CCW Instructor said:
There are two approaches to consider:

1. State Law. Some states specifically address the issue while others are silent. If your state's law regarding firearms at church is specific, you have no choice but to follow the law. In many states however, firearms in church is a topic on which state law is silent -- essentially leaving it up to the property owner. If your state's law is silent, then you can typically carry UNLESS the church has put out the word in its church bulletins, newsletter, has a sign on the front door and/or has made an announcement from the pulpit.

2. Discretion. Although I practice both open and concealed carry, I believe that discretion and common sense dictates concealed carry at church. Use common sense. If and when the time ever comes that you need to display your firearm because some nut job has arrived and is ready to conduct a mass killing, then you'll need to render your firearm out in the open as a life-saving tool. But until then I believe discretion requires concealment.
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If your state's law regarding firearms at church is specific, you have no choice but to follow the law.

If you feel that it is better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6 you have a choice. You just have to remember that all choices can have consequences. Fail to follow the law and you could go to jail. Fail to carry your gun and you and or a loved one could be dead. There is a risk either way. Life is full of choices and only "you" can decide which ones "you" are willing to take.
 
G50AE said:
Or you could just not go to church.
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For me I will not consider not going to church nor not carrying in church an option so that would leave choice number three. Go to church and keep it concealed. What others don't know can't hurt me. Fortunately here in Texas unless the church posts the 30.06 sign at all doors there is nothing to stop you from carrying. I doubt many if any do that.
 
I get asked by may pastor..."You ARE armed...right?"

"Yes John, always."

"Good. Can you please sit close to the Sunday School doors?"

"Don't I always?"

"Yes."

"John, we've had this conversation before...now get to preachin' and teachin'!"

One more reason why I like the church we attend.
 
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