(RNS) The Arkansas Senate has passed a bill that lifts a ban on carrying concealed weapons in church.
Pryor Creek Community Church is one of a few dozen churches around the country that are offering concealed carry certification classes as a way to reach out to non-Christians or to attract new members. RNS photo courtesy iStockPhoto.
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The proposal, which goes to the Arkansas House for consideration, would allow churches to decide which, if any, worshippers with concealed carry permits can bring their firearms inside.
The measure passed 28-4 on Monday (Jan. 28), KATV reported.
State Sen. Bryan King, a Republican, said “The Church Protection Act” would provide each church “an individual decision on what they want to do for security,” according to Arkansas Online.
Sen. Linda Chesterfield, a Democrat, said she was “trying to wrap my head around how we get Jesus Christ being nonviolent and churches as a house of prayer.”
“If there was one person who was antiviolent, it was my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” said Chesterfield, who opposed the measure.
(Doug Stanglin writes for USA Today.)
5 Comments
Belief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Wednesday, January 30, 2013 – CNN Belief Blog - CNN.com Blogs
[...] Religion News Service: Arkansas Senate OKs guns in churches The Arkansas Senate has passed a bill that lifts a ban on carrying concealed weapons in church. The proposal, which goes to the Arkansas House for consideration, would allow churches to decide which, if any, worshippers with concealed carry permits can bring their firearms inside. [...]
Paul Pearson
Why oh why would anyone need or feel the need to take a gun to church? What does this say about the churchgoer, or what does it say about their god?
wyocowboy
i agree…if i ever wld go to church (which i have no reason except for weddings or funerals) i wld not want simw crazy church goer have one their…it makes no sense. they r just crazy mother fuckers
Mark Edwards
Dr. George Tiller was shot dead in the narthex of his church on Pentecost Sunday by a “conservative Christian man” who was against abortion. Had Tiller had a gun with him, and he’d had a chance to respond to a surprise attack, may have been a shoot out with who knows how many people killed. Here, the answer remains – get the guns out of the hands of those who would misuse them.
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[...] Arkansas Senate passed a bill lifting the state’s ban on carrying concealed weapons in church. Only 20% of Americans [...]