Landmark Baptist

Brethren,
Didn't exactly know where to post this one, just wanted to ask the question, "How do most of you (from Arkansas or not) feel about the bill allowing concealed handguns in churches?" Again, this is an Arkansas bill. However, anybody is welcome to comment.

The bill by Rep. Beverly Pyle, R-Cedarville, passed Wednesday on a 57-42 vote. It now heads to the Senate.
The measure removes churches and houses of worship from the list of places where concealed handguns are banned. Currently, the only private entities where the concealed weapons are banned are churches and bars.
The bill would give churches the option of allowing the weapons on their premises. If a church opts out, it can notify members in any way it chooses -- through a sign, an announcement during services or a message in a church bulletin, for example.

I'm FOR it.

I have no interest in bringing a gun(s) to church. But from a constitutional standpoint this seems proper. It should be the business of the local church and not the state government to decide whether weapons, concealed or not, can be carried on her premises.

Bro Mike wrote:I might be a little slow, but, for what purpose??

I guess to combat the number of shooting across the nation in churches these past few years, that is just my guess. I have nothing to substantiate this. Maybe, it is just so people will supposedly feel safer. Who knows?

Maybe someone is thinking of the dangerous areas that some churches are located in.

About the fights in business meetings in the 70 80's I know of a church in California that after a business meeting in the early 70's there was a knife fight in the parking lot. They were supposed to be 2 deacons.

Bro Mike wrote:I have not heard of any shootings other than two or three in Utah at LDS churches the past 2 years and i guess a guy who gunned down his ex-wife at a church back east somewhere. BTW all the LDS ones were the same scenario a ex-husband shooting his wife who I would guess was told by a bishop to leave her husband which is very common.

Maybe if it is an issue, churches can have the head usher carrying a firearm or something. He can also moderate business meetings. I used to hear of all the angry mob business meetings in Missionary Baptist churches where members would bring chains as weapons in the 70's ans 80's..

Bro. Mike,
Yes, you are correct about these instances. However, I am positive it is two too many and I am sure all will agree. In regards to the angry mob meetings is that really true? I have never heard that. Wasn't there a case in TN as well?

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chu_viol1.htm
http://www.religioustolerance.org/chu_viol3.htm
http://www.baptiststandard.com/1999/9_22/pages/daingerfield.html
http://www.baptiststandard.com/1999/9_15/pages/select1.html

The above links give information about 6 church shootings from 1974 to 2003. Two of them were in Texas. My mother-in-law's aunt & uncle were members of the Daingerfield church where 5 were killed.

I give the links for information, but don't agree with all of their opinions.

As a kid about 6 or 7 yrs old the first time I saw a real life handgun that I can remember was in Church. There was a meeting drawn up by a sometimes controversial figure (I will leave the name of the individual and the Church out) but after making some very derogatory and insulting comments it angered a few members and when they stood up to remove the one speaking the two men behind him also stood up and slightly pulled back their suit coats revealing their pistols. It shocked everyone and as a kid I didn't quite get why a gun was in Church but we all left and the speaker got his way. Now this was supposedly Gods people speaking and being spoken to so it really puzzeled me for years until my G-father who was a deacon at another Church cleared it up for me. It is also quite possibly why my dad left the Church and never returned even though he once was set aside to be deacon in a sister Church near Oakdale, Ca.


As far as our Constitutional right to bare arms I am all for it. I cannot fathom the mind set needed to carry a gun into Gods house though. One day we may see the need as troubles grow but I still don't see how we can ally ourselves with the tools of man for our security when God is our security.