GA: Judge upholds ban on guns in places of worship

[marmar]

By Rhonda Cook
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution


A federal judge has upheld the Georgia law banning weapons in churches, mosques and synagogues, saying gun rights advocates had not shown that carrying a firearm is necessary to practicing any religion.

U.S. District Judge Ashley Royal late Monday dismissed a lawsuit filed by the gun rights organization GeorgiaCarry.org and the minister at the Baptist Tabernacle of Thomaston. Royal wrote that Georgia law did not violate the First Amendment right to freedom of religion or the Second Amendment guarantee of a right to bear arms.

Also on Monday, a north Georgia legislator filed a bill to remove the restriction on guns in places of worship. House Bill 54, filed by Rep. Bobby Franklin, R-Marietta, eliminates places of worship from the list of prohibited places.

John Monroe, the attorney who filed the suit, said no decision has been made about appealing Royal’s decision or dropping the issue. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.ajc.com/news/judge-upholds-ban-on-815301.html

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[CatWoman]

2. i think I'm going to faint

:)

[onehandle]

3. Deep breaths.

You can worship without the aid of an Uzi.

It can be done.

[Kingofalldems]

4. Here we go

:popcorn: K and R

[Nuclear Unicorn]

5. The judge should get out more often

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/07/28/church.shooting/

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29582081/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-02-16/news/17889325_1_worshipers-double-doors-hooded

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=7640198

A cursory search.

[damntexdem]

6. Great!

I'm surprised to hear of such good common sense in a judicial opinion from GA.

[shadowrider]

7. Won't stop me. I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6 n/t

[pipoman]

8. A good decision

states should have the authority to some restrictions. If there are restrictions imposed by the state, the legislative process is far more accessible at that level. If this were a federal restriction, it would be struck down IMHO.

[YllwFvr]

9. i dont go to church

id rather carry to the bar ;)

[lawodevolution]

10. Didn't gun control proponents say guns were a religion?

[Glassunion]

11. I'm stuck on one line in the entire article...

"had not shown that carrying a firearm is necessary to practicing any religion.

It is not about the practice of a religion, it is about self defense while practicing any religion. The two are completely separate as one does not rely, nor relate to the other.

I'm looking at it from the angle of taking any other legal activity and inserting it into the statement.
"had not shown that carrying a firearm is necessary to driving a car.
"had not shown that carrying a firearm is necessary to going camping.
"had not shown that carrying a firearm is necessary to visting an ATM machine.
"had not shown that carrying a firearm is necessary to reading this garbage.