[pistol-packin-preacher]

As a pastor, I often wonder how other churches/places of worship handle the whole "carry in church" issue.

In Ohio, you need to get permission (verbal or written) from the church administration. This could be the board, pastor, etc, depending on the governmental structure of your church.

In our denomination, and according to articles of incorporation, etc, the pastor is viewed in the corporate model as the president of the corporation. I do have a deputy, as well as a state trooper dispatcher who always carry. I also have four additional men who have their CHL's and sometimes carry. For the most part, I have the freedom to "grant permission" to those who have received their license.

If your place of worship is "carry friendly," what does that look like?

 

[erdoc]

I would never ask and I would never tell. My personal safety is not contingent upon the discretion of any entity or individual.

 

[vandave]

Don't ask, don't tell...at least one thing Clinton got right.

 

[jocko]

As a pastor, I often wonder how other churches/places of worship handle the whole "carry in church" issue.

In Ohio, you need to get permission (verbal or written) from the church administration. This could be the board, pastor, etc, depending on the governmental structure of your church.

In our denomination, and according to articles of incorporation, etc, the pastor is viewed in the corporate model as the president of the corporation. I do have a deputy, as well as a state trooper dispatcher who always carry. I also have four additional men who have their CHL's and sometimes carry. For the most part, I have the freedom to "grant permission" to those who have received their license.

If your place of worship is "carry friendly," what does that look like?

thats nice, but I can assure you if I was going to your church I would be carrying and you would never know it. No offense either

 

[pistol-packin-preacher]

I don't have a problem with that, really. But, if you were in a church where a situation arose when you had to use your gun, and the LEO's investigate as to whether you had been granted permission to carry - that might create a problem for you. In Ohio, at least - where churches are no carry zones unless you have permission - it seems that you are better protected (legally) if you have permission (preferably in writing).

I would be much more comfortable in making places of worship carry friendly, unless posted otherwise. I recall reading an article a year or so ago that indicated that during the early years of our country, if a man carried to worship, it excused him from having to do some of the other militia drills. I have looked for that article again, and cannot find it.

 

[Snubbie K]

I attend a "mega-church" of many thousand members. I am involved with security for the church and drive for high- profile guest speakers from all over the world.

We have a great many active and retired police and government agency types who attend regularly.

On any given Saturday, if you went shooting at our local indoor range, you wouldn't be surprised at all to see the pastor, songleader, head of our inchurch Christian bookstore, or any one of a dozen folks from church that come to mind.

It became obvious to all concerned that there were a lot of folks carrying around church on most Sunday mornings. We figured that we should do something officially to cover the church from being sued if someone had to shoot someone who jumped up on stage and started shooting or something. There are also terror threats since our church is such a high-profile target.

One of the local police departments has arranged for some official training to help in that area. Not that many of us need the training. We already carry leagally.

A total of ten guys and gals from both of our related churches are being trained at the police facilities.

Our crowded facility and the number of armed people around are reasons (among others) why I choose to carry a j-frame revolver with about a hundred pound trigger.

This is not the place to start spraying 17 bullets from a semi automatic pistol. It's a little slower and takes more practice to be accurate. But I know exactly - that I meant to squeeze off the round and where it is going when I hear the bang.

The LCP is meant for a BUG/New York reload only- not primary.

 

[RugerShooter]

I am a Morman, and in Utah you can not carry in a "Place of Worship" if the church has notified the BCI that they want to be "Gun Free."

Here is a link to the Law that Utah has
http://publicsafety.utah.gov/bci/CFchurch.html

 

[LSU FAN]

Several good points made about the laws and covering thy behind. I 'll have to go with the don't ask, don't tell method though.

 

[jocko]

I don't have a problem with that, really. But, if you were in a church where a situation arose when you had to use your gun, and the LEO's investigate as to whether you had been granted permission to carry - that might create a problem for you. In Ohio, at least - where churches are no carry zones unless you have permission - it seems that you are better protected (legally) if you have permission (preferably in writing).

I would be much more comfortable in making places of worship carry friendly, unless posted otherwise. I recall reading an article a year or so ago that indicated that during the early years of our country, if a man carried to worship, it excused him from having to do some of the other militia drills. I have looked for that article again, and cannot find it.

to many scenarios" s for me. I carry for my protection, not really yours. Could really care less about what any LEO's thought after the fact. Not being cocky but that is my feelings. I have carried for 46 years, no one has never known I carried. been in many many churchs, public buildings etc. COMMON SENSE always prevails in my case. I would never pull my weapon to bluff anyone, in 46 years I have never had to pull my handgun. threaten my family it wll be a different story. I seriously doubt if most churchs want any guns in their buildings, legal or not, so why even ask, when you probably know the answer.

 

[Stiofan]

There is no prohibition or prior notification rule about churches in Idaho. So many people carry around here it's just normal behavior.

I usually carry, but not always. But when I do I don't go around talking about it, same as when I don't. It's too bad that in Ohio you have to get permission from another person to protect yourself but coming from a state wehre I couldn't carry at all, it's a lot better than that.

 

[_87120_]

There were two preachers and a couple of their deacons in my CCW class in Albuquerque NM.

Dan in ABQ

 

[rugardan]

I would feel much safer knowing C.C. was open on the premises. Any church who is a gun free zone should be responsible for those who are unable to protect themselves if a situation arises.... IMO ???

 

[96GTS]

Google "Church shootings" and after reading all those incidents, try to tell me not to carry there. But I'm with the others, its not open carry, dont ask, dont tell. My church is small. I grew up there and will continue to g othere when my schedule permits it. And its right across from some former nice apts, now dedicated section 8 housing. I know LEOs that work that city and most of the problems stem from those apts. So yeah, I carry....

 

[bp]

All church carry is illegal under current Georgia law.

 

[HowardCohodas]

There is risk in asking and being refused. My tribe is very liberal, so I'm reluctant to ask. I'll have to decide whether the consequences of being discovered as a result of a SD incident are greater from not asking or asking and being refused.

On the other hand, I have generally lived by the approach to life that my children taught me while they were raising me.

It's often easier to gain forgiveness than permission

 

[TheShooter]

I guess the best way to answer this is to say - I'm not required to ask, answer or tell. ;D

 

[rugardan]

All church carry is illegal under current Georgia law.

Wow! That sounds Unconstitutional I.M.O.

How are you protected against violent criminals, should they chose to enter the Church?

Something like this comes to mind, although this was a school.
http://www.800padutch.com/amishshooting.shtml

 

[Match10]

All church carry is illegal under current Georgia law.

Yup.... :-[

 

[foolproofoak]

arkansas law also prohibits church carry

 

[ragu1macrider]

I carry all the time.
My wife of the last 7 years knew that I carried, but not that I carried to Church until I was changing my jacket one Sunday and she saw my holstered pistol. She questioned why I would feel the need to have it in Church. I told her that if I was hell-bent on killing Christians a church would be a very good place to start.
When we got to Church she ran to the Pastor and told him I was armed. He told her he would talk to me about it. When it came time for the greeting, he approched me, patted me on the side, and said, "Do me a favor and keep it covered."
So my guess is, YES my Church is carry friendly.
BTW
Very few people in Church know that I carry. It's kind of a need to know thing.