Louisiana Moves To Allow Armed Worshippers

By Ed Anderson / The Times-Picayune
Religion News Service

BATON ROUGE, La. (RNS) People qualified to carry concealed weapons should be able to keep them strapped on in a church or temple as a way to enhance security, a state House committee decided Wednesday (April 28).

The House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice voted 8-3 for bill that would allow a church to hire a security force or create its own by authorizing the church's board or pastor to tap parishioners who have concealed weapons permits to bring them to church.

Louisiana law currently bans weapons in houses of worship. The bill, sponsored by Republican Henry Burns, does not force churches to participate.

"If we are going to turn a church into the wild, wild West, how can we put our hearts and minds into God's business?" asked Rep. Barbara Norton, a Democrat. "If we can't feel safe in church doing the business of the Lord, where else can we feel safe?"

Burns' bill was amended to require a church that allows armed parishioners to notify all members in announcements from the pulpit or in the weekly bulletin or newsletter.

Burns said the bill is needed to protect people who live in areas where crime may be a problem or where police response may be slow. "It is a church choice," he said. "We live in a different world today" where violent crimes invade church services.

"Our babies in the nursery are subject to attack while the mother is in the sanctuary worshiping," said Durell Tuberville of the Shreveport Community Church. "We want to protect our people, our sheep."

Critics, however, including Democratic state Rep. Charmaine Marchand Stiaes, said the average churchgoer is not trained in firearms or hostage negotiations like police are and could prove to be a danger. Others warned that churches could be assuming more civil liability than
they anticipate.

"You put that church in a lot of risk financially," GOP state Rep. Joe Lopinto said. "This may not be the answer that we are willing to go there."

Comments

[Roger Lakins]

04:51 PM on 05/06/2010

It will be interesting to see if this results in better performance by preachers and musicians. That could be th "up" side.

[LiberalDem]

11:41 AM on 05/06/2010

Well, it rather fits with the blood-soaked history of institutional Christianity in world history, doesn't it?

I grew up in a caring and religious family and continue to find my faith a source of strength, but I am dismayed by the people who apparently can't practice their religion without some show of force.

[monstermash9]

03:13 AM on 05/06/2010

Nothing says peace on earth like a piece.

[InYourWorld]

12:01 AM on 05/06/2010

This is allowed in many other states already.

[REDSTATEREFUGEE]

05:39 PM on 05/05/2010

WWJS --- Who Would Jesus Shoot?

[Nutcase]

12:27 PM on 05/05/2010

What took so long? How could anyone worship the Prince of Peace without a weapon? If you can't intimidate someone, there won't be any meek to inherit the Earth. Real Christians, rejoice.

[Skelton Knaggs]

12:04 PM on 05/05/2010

I'm all for it.

Plus fragmentation grenades, napalm, weapons-grade anthrax, sarin gas --

Psst -- the 2A says ARMS -- not GUNS.

Them things is arms, fo' sho'.

[rf dude]

12:31 AM on 05/05/2010

"And our Gospel for today will be a reading from the book of

Colt, Winchester, Remington, Heckler & Koch"...
;

[petit chaton]

09:48 PM on 05/04/2010

I love the way legislatures will allow their voters to carry weapons whereever they wish; except for in state government buildings where they work and in the courts. Who needs security there - right?

According to these fools, whereever there is a security issue, we need more people carrying guns. Why have we been going through thismess at airports when we should just let all these gun carrying wannabe-heros protect us?

[Vernie31]

04:40 PM on 05/04/2010

Dear God, Please let me know which ones, for surely you are not there.

[4httr]

02:09 PM on 05/04/2010

Just one more reason for me to stay North of the Mason-Dixon line.

[debkey]

03:57 PM on 05/04/2010

Ha! Just one more reason for me to stay out of churches.

[professoramy]

01:48 PM on 05/04/2010

Even in the wild west, when everyone was armed, people were required to check their weapons at the door of a saloon and a church...for obvious reasons. Just who are these gun-totin' Christians planning to shoot in their churches?????

[Michael630]

01:08 PM on 05/04/2010

Why stop there! If concealed carry is such a great thing there should be no restrictions whatsoever...carry them in church, schools, courtrooms, everywhere.....

[hopeforchangenow]

12:45 PM on 05/04/2010

The gun manufacturers (I believe I read recently that most of them are owned by foreigners - bought out the American companies) are taking those profits and putting them in foreign banks and not paying any American taxes. What do you want to bet?

[hopeforchangenow]

12:42 PM on 05/04/2010

You know they do not have any problems in Louisiana that need to be resolved, so they have time to consider bullsh*t laws.