Some churches are advising members not to pack heat, after Gov. Nathan Deal signed into law sweeping gun legislation that the NRA called “the most comprehensive pro-gun bill in state history” but which critics decry as the “guns everywhere” law
Robert Wright, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, sent an open letter last week to the 56,000 members that make up the dozens of Episcopal churches throughout north Georgia with a simple message: Don’t bring guns into the house of God.
I’ve generally thought of myself as a pretty strong 2nd amendment kinda guy. But honestly I think the NRA has gone a little overboard in their insistence that gun rights are absolute and should be subject to no regulation.
Background checks? Seriously? We want anyone to be able to buy a gun on a no questions asked basis?
Right to carry in saloons? Come on guys. They didn’t even allow that in the Old West. Guns and booze don’t mix. Anyone who doesn’t grasp that please let me know where you will be drinking and when…
Right to carry in your place of work? If your employer is cool with it then so am I. But your gun rights stop at the edge of someone else’s private property. If they don’t want you packing heat in their business (or home) then lump it or look for another job.
I used to agree with the NRA about 99% of the time, but some of the stuff they are pushing lately is a bit over the top. They need to take deep breath and think a little bit. No right is absolute, including the right to keep and bear arms.
The law expressly says that the Churches can prohibit carrying guns in them. And the Episcopal Churches have said No. They are now officially gun free zones.
It also means that if any one does want to shoot them up they will know that the people there are helpless and will be unable to resist. It will be as some would say a target rich environment. At one time Church goers were required to bring their firearms to Church, but that was a long time ago. Would anyone go into a place of worship to harm those there? Well, yes they would and have. Did the fact that they were in a “Gun Free Zone” stop them? No it did not.
Gun “free” zones keep law abiding citizens from possessing them, criminals not so much. Like virtually every other cultural issue, ECUSA is caught up in the “conventional wisdom” of the day which contributes slowly but steadily to its own demise…
Br. Michael
When and where was it obligatory to carry guns to church? Maybe colonial days on the frontier? I can’t imagine any other circumstance. Historically the Christian Church was pretty pacifist in it’s early days. There were some fairly draconian penances for soldiers who killed others, even during war time, in the first few centuries.
#1, I would suggest that it might be you who needs to take the deep breath and pause.
The NRA supports background checks in sales from FFL’s. They do not support universal background checks as this is the first step toward confiscation [see CT]. The NRA has advocated armed persons in schools to protect children…..and the anti-gun crowd went wild. Well, the Federal Govt is now offering grants so that schools can hire guards, how about that.
The NRA supports enforcing existing gun laws [prosecuting felons who break gun laws]. The city of Chicago just winks at such laws, and look at the mess they are in. The NRA has advocated for common sense scrutiny of persons with serious mental diagnoses which has been ignored in favor of more “feel good” gun ban proposals.
Been paying my NRA dues for years and look forward to giving them as much support as I can afford to.
The bishop’s letter referenced in the article unfortunately did not go to the next criminal who decides to bring a gun into church. And even if it did, the criminal won’t abide by it [which is part of why he/she is a criminal!].
4, I was referring to the colonial days.
“The statute that most clearly states the intent of “bring your guns to church†laws is a 1643 Connecticut order, “To prevent or withstand such sudden assaults as may be made by Indeans upon the Sabboth or lecture dayes, It is Ordered, that one person in every several howse wherein is any souldear or souldears, shall bring a musket, pystoll or some peece, with powder and shott to e[a]ch meeting….â€
http://saf.org/journal/16/ColonialFirearmRegulation.pdf
O goody, now the Dio Atlanta won’t have to worry about armed takeovers during organizational meetings by pew potatoes and the lawyers can do theft by law unhindered. Plus, they get to tout their sanctimoniousness with signage that will undoubtedly act like a force field to any miscreant armed on the property! It’s a win-win-steal.
Episcopalians in Georgia and elsewhere have been concealed-carrying guns in church, and will continue to do so, regardless of what some bishop says. I do think that certified peace officers should have explicit permission to carry, whether they’re on duty or not. Open carry when on duty, concealed when not. The same goes for certain other folks – judges, and other government officials. I likewise think that a civilian, with proper training and a background check, should have explicit permission for concealed-carry.
The bad guys will also carry whether they have permission or not.
As for bars – well, carrying a firearm and drinking are incompatible. But, someone who goes into a bar for food only should not be barred from concealed carry, if qualified.