Ken Pagano, the pastor of the New Bethel Church here, is passionate about gun rights. He shoots regularly at the local firing range, and his sermon two weeks ago was on \u201cGod, Guns, Gospel and Geometry.\u201d\u009d And on Saturday night, he is inviting his congregation of 150 and others to wear or carry their firearms into the sanctuary to \u201ccelebrate our rights as Americans!\u201d\u009d as a promotional flier for the \u201copen carry celebration\u201d\u009d puts it.<\/p>\n
\u201cGod and guns were part of the foundation of this country,\u201d\u009d Mr. Pagano, 49, said Wednesday in the small brick Assembly of God church, where a large wooden cross hung over the altar and two American flags jutted from side walls. \u201cI don\u2019t see any contradiction in this. Not every Christian denomination is pacifist.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
The bring-your-gun-to-church day, which will include a $1 raffle of a handgun, firearms safety lessons and a picnic, is another sign that the gun culture in the United States is thriving despite, or perhaps because of, President Obama\u2019s election in November.<\/p>\n