Ark. Pastors Debate Merits of Allowing Hidden Guns

[Judi Lynn]

Source: ABC/AP

Ark. Pastors Debate Merits of Allowing Hidden Guns
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition: Arkansas considers allowing hidden guns in churches
By DANIEL SHEA Associated Press Writer
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. February 14, 2009 (AP)

Arkansas pastors may soon have to worry about more than their flocks' spiritual battles. After a number of shootings in churches nationwide, should congregants be allowed to bring concealed weapons into their sanctuaries?

Under current Arkansas law, holders of concealed weapons permits can take their guns anywhere they want except bars and houses of worship. A bill in the state Senate would let churches decide for themselves whether weapons should be allowed.

"I believe it would disturb the sanctity and tranquility of church" said Pastor John Phillips, a bill opponent who was shot twice in the back as he finished a service 23 years ago. If a church opts out, "Do you want ushers to stop you at the door and frisk you?"

The bill's supporters say the issue isn't gun rights but a constitutionally protected right for churches to set their own rules. Opponents say worshippers should be allowed to pray without worrying whether the person next to them is armed.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/LegalCenter/wireStory?id=6878069

[Turbineguy]

1. Interesting...

a sort of sermon quality tool.

[Caretha]

19. ROFL

I like your sense of humor. :)

[Siwsan]

2. Well, maybe the pastors would keep their sermons short

and to the point. Otherwise, they could end up having a Gunfight at the OK Sanctuary.

[Brucie Kibbutz]

3. Concealed carry at church is fine with me.

As long as they are licensed to carry, I don't have a problem with it. However, the best way to solve this problem, as well as a lot of other problems in this world, would be to just avoid going to church in the first place.

[Diane R]

6. Best post!!!!!!!!!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

8. the best way to solve the problem

to my mind would be to change the mindset that thinks carrying concealed weapons is necessary at all.

[Brucie Kibbutz]

12. Let law abiding citizens

decide for themselves what is and isn't necessary.

[Old Codger]

20. You Bet N/T

[LiberalFighter]

21. Yep... avoid the places that have higher than normal nuts. IMO

[defendandprotect]

4. Ah, shucks . . . how can we have a Wild West America without more guns . .. ???

[byeya]

5. guns are allowed in Utah churches, so if AK prots

want to be like the Mormon cult, let 'em...I won't be there

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. How did Alaska get into the discussion?

I thought it was Arkansas (AR) pastors discussing this. (AK is the abbreviation for Alaska. Many people get these abbreviations mixed up, and I personally have had mail delayed because of it.)

[byeya]

11. Thanks!

My brain was in neutral...Arkansas, Arkansas...I'll stick with spelling it out!

[Bandit]

26. Funny story

I wrote a letter to my US Senator Frank Murkowski and at that time I lived in a small fishing community known as Elfin Cove Alaska. I received a reply from my US Alaska Senator addressed to Elephant Cove Arkansas. The only reason I received the letter was the Zip code. I still have that letter with it's envelope.

[IndianaGreen]

9. REPENT or I will shoot you where you sit!

Yep, sounds like a good idea to allow guns in churches.

:crazy:

[frog92969]

10. I thought they're schtik was "faith"

Shouldn't they're God protect them?
Maybe they need to pray more.

[The abyss]

13. No one is going to believe this, but I’ll tell it anyway…

A nearby community (no I am not telling where), has a church that various members and the pastor get together about an hour or so before services are held. All of this early morning group are ardent gun collectors, hunters, target shooters, etc… They bring different hardware to their morning meeting for a kind of show and tell session.

Or at least that is how it went a couple of years ago. The pastor that was there then has since retired. And nope, no one has ever gone “wild west”. However, I’m pretty sure they left their hardware in anti room somewhere when the services were ready to start.

True story.

[Union Yes]

14. This DU'er supports a full repeal of the 2nd Amendment.

1000 years from now humans will look at each other and wonder how or why we ever allowed mankind to personally own these weapons of mass destruction-GUNS.

When will humanity fucking get it? We do not have a right to kill one another. EVER!

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

24. Yeah who needs the Constitution.

[Wizard777]

15. At worst. If there are weapons in the church. It's a valid military target.

They forfeit protection under the laws of war. But they don't have to worry about any of this unless we are invaded.

[edc]

16. Hallelujah brothers!

O8) Let us pray to God for bigger guns, lower taxes and cheaper gas. Amen

[skepticscott]

17. Is the reason

they don't just depend on their god to protect them from armed intruders the same reason that Christian Scientists still go to doctors from broken bones?

[hatrack]

18. Yeah! Then, when the crazed homicidal liberals break in and start shooting . .

Oh, wait. That happened to some liberals in that Unitarian Universalist church in Knoxville. And the people who took down the winger dirtbag were unarmed . . . now I remember!!!

:eyes:

[KakistocracyHater]

22. how soon till duels make a trendy comeback

in the South?

[daleo]

23. Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition

This brings that saying to life.

[Ian David]

25. Blessed are the Colt Peacemakers.

Gun Sale at the Church
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0npOg8TvJuE