ARKANSAS: Church Protection (Guns in Church) Bill Signed into Law.

[GreenStormCloud]

http://www.allmediany.com/news/7376-new-arkansas-law-allows-guns-in-church

A new law signed by Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe on Monday allows parishioners to bring their guns to church.

The Church Protection Act would grant places of worship the right to decide whether they want to allow members to bring their concealed handguns to services. The bill was passed in the House 85 - 8 with bipartisan support.

“It is crucial to protecting the freedom of religion and property rights,” said Nicholas Stehle, a member of the board of directors of the advocacy group Arkansas Carry. “The state has no business meddling in the affairs of our churches.”

More at link

That is the first gun bill passed in 2013. Another legislative victory for gun rights.

[Gman]

1. I hope every pastor that believes in the teachings of

Christ, Islam or any other messenger of peace stands their ground and prohibits guns in their churches. Then make the sorry bastards sue 'em. A court is going to dictate to a church what happens in their church? I don't think so.

[Glaug-Eldare]

2. Read it again.

This law will stop courts from dictating what happens in their church.

[GreenStormCloud]

3. Whether to allow guns or not will be the decision of the church.

Most Protestant churches will have a vote of the church membership. The pastor is not a dictator. I don't know how Catholic churchs make such decisions. Texas has had that law for several years. The church I attend allows guns, and I know several people who do carry concealed in church. Nobody cares.

[Gman]

4. NOt enough coffee...

looks like a good law

[rgbecker]

5. Are you trying to tell me Churches, up til now could not ban guns from their Church?

Or are you saying now they can allow guns, where before they weren't allowed in any church?

I find either idea hard to believe. Were there state or town laws on the books denying guns in churches?

[gejohnston]

6. until now in Arkansas, the State banned guns from churches

the churches could not allow guns if they wanted to.

Were there state or town laws on the books denying guns in churches?

Yes. Wyoming still has one.

[rgbecker]

9. How, exactly, is that enforced? Cops come in, walk up and down isle,

get the old ladies on the floor and search them? I've never seen it.

[gejohnston]

13. search me,

I don't carry in town, and I don't go to church.

[Starboard Tack]

7. Arkansas, right?

I imagine a lot of folk will be switching churches soon.

[GreenStormCloud]

8. I doubt that it will have any signifigant impact.

It didn't in Texas when we adopted the same law a few years ago.

[rgbecker]

10. So was the WACO church of David Koresh in violation?

Was that the law they used to attack the place? And now, with the new law allowing guns in church, they'd be all set?

Just wondering how all that works.

[GreenStormCloud]

11. That was long before Texas had concealed carry.

Waco was both a church and a group residence, so their guns were legal. Since the church/residence was private property, any legal guns were also legal there.

When Texas adopted concealed carry there was a list of places that one could not carry. Churches were on the list. Then there was a mass shooting in a church in Texas and the legislature responded by changing the law to allow concealed carry in churches.

[Clames]

12. I imagine you are quite wrong.

Not that you truly have any concern one way or the other of course.

[Starboard Tack]

14. I imagine you may be correct, considering the context

And you are 100% correct about my lack of concern. The state has no business dictating church business or behavior, unless it interferes with government or public interest. The irony of faithful "Christians" arming themselves in their own place of worship is priceless.

[GreenStormCloud]

15. The diciples travelled around armed.

If being armed wasn't routine for some of them, they why did they have two swords at the Mount of Olives on Jesus' arrest night?

[Clames]

16. Maybe it's your lack of concern or maybe it's your lack of reading comprehension...

...but maybe you should try and read the actual law.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:

SECTION 1. Arkansas Code § 5-73-306(16), concerning the prohibition against carrying a concealed handgun in a church or other place of worship, is amended to read as follows:
(16)(A) Any church or other place of worship.

(B)However, this subchapter does not preclude a church or other place of worship from determining who may carry a concealed handgun in church or other place of worship;


Meaning: the State isn't dictating shit to the churches. The irony of the usual screed without factual basis.

[Starboard Tack]

17. You appear confused. Where am I disagreeing with you?

Or are you arguing against yourself?

[Clames]

19. Confused? Remember I read the law.

I'm not the one imagining the state of Arkansas has passed a law that makes the churches there do anything.

[gejohnston]

18. Can we all agree that

it is a win for church/state separation?