friend gives me crap for carrying all the time...

Not sure what's wrong about carrying in church. In some places it may not be legal, but as far as I am concerned it is not "wrong," which implies some moral issue.

Bad people do sometimes go to churches and do bad things. Some churches even have their own armed security.

Assuming that all will be peachy because one is in church is quaint, but is not an assumption based on reality.
 
Same here. Buddy of mine (who was raised around guns and his dad carries =P) used to give me jive until he really took a look around. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
 
Hogwiley: I think there are some cases where carrying a pistol at all times can go too far. I would never step foot in a church with a handgun. I was amazed to find there are people that do carry a gun in church, which I think is horribly wrong.
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Texas permits carrying in Church unless there is a 30.06 sign. Any Church in Texas can have such a sign posted.

I also am wary about leaving a pistol unattended and not locked up for any length of time if children of any age are around, including teenagers, so I think there are many times when its appropriate to keep the handgun locked up, even if that means you dont have it on your person.
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I do not allow children, nor teenagers in my apartment, and the criminals that are out on parole and probation won't wait for me to get my gun out of a lock box. So I neither have a lockbox nor do I need one. The safest place for my gun to be is on my person.

Ive personally never bothered getting a carry permit because I live in a rural area with low crime. I am of the belief way too many permits are being issued to too many people who shouldnt have one. I think the requirements should be a lot stricter and training more extensive, but If someone is mature has a squeaky clean background and an even temperment, I wouldnt judge them for carrying a lot. .
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Texas where I live has stricter requirements than most other States. When Concealed Carry was enacted in Texas the crime statistics went down.

Im just disturbed at some of the people Ive discovered had carry permits despite being known hotheads. Ive recently found out two people I know have carry permits despite the fact both have had histories of spousal abuse and child abuse. I can only assume they werent convicted of anything and therefore the background check came up clean, but most people who know them would be shocked they were issued permits.
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If they had a history of spousal abuse or child abuse they would not be issued to them in Texas. You say they were known hotheads? Did you have confrontations with them? Most people would be shocked to learn how many
criminals living around them, carry guns without a permit. When they are involved in a shooting, they did not just find a gun, they were carrying one!:)
 
I see nothing wrong with carrying in a church either.
I may go to church to worship and pray to my god, but that doesn't mean I expect Divine Intervention the moment a crazed gunman walks through the door.

And there's already enough violence associated with different religions, thanks. If it carries over the threshold of my church, I want it to stop before the parishioners get hurt.

Hot heads... You might want to re-evaluate your local hot head to see if his attitude has mellowed. It's one thing to be quick with your mouth and fists. Then once you start totin' a pistol... knowing the minefield of legalities you can step on... it tends to mellow your outlook. Some things are just no longer worth worrying about. If he hasn't mellowed, then tell him to read a few of Massad Ayoob's books. That may help slow his temper.
 
Im a Christian, which is why I would never carry a gun into a church, other religions may differ. Its about faith and belief that this life is temporary, and what you do in this life is far more important than how long it lasts. I believe carrying a weapon into the house of the lord is wrong. If you are of so little faith, then what is the point of even going to church?

This isnt a gun issue or political issue. My faith trumps all that stuff, but this isnt really the forum for religious discussion so Ill end it at that.
 
hog, what you see is the era of the early Catholic Church, which was having troubles keeping altar plate and gold chalices safe in churches in days of men in armor. Divine intervention was threatened if "steel was borne into the house of the lord" to ensure that only the monks would be armed inside. Our Lord directed his followers to sell their garments and purchase local self defense weapons. I do not recall Him telling them to remove them before the Last Supper. I could be wrong. The above are the results of personal study ONLY, not an "official" position from anyone in authority.
 
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Hogwiley. Before I say anything, let me say, without a doubt, that I absolutely respect your religious convictions. And applaud you for sticking to what you believe. But I just want to point out that refusing to take a gun into God's house implies that there is something immoral or inherently evil about a gun. I don't happen to believe that's the case. Again, totally see your view point. I just don't happen to agree with it.

Having said that, where I live it is legal to carry in a church, but you have to have advance permission from the pastor/priest/whoever.
 
hog, if your faith is that strong, why do you carry at all?

I believe Seventh Day Adventists believe blood transfusions are against God's will, but I could have them mixed up with another group. Most of us would happily accept a blood transfusion, if medically necessary, and few would say we lacked faith or were somehow immoral. (But some would.)

I still remember some supposedly good Christian women who told my friend his mother was dying (the result of medical malpractice - a botched C-section cut that severed her renal artery and large intestine) because her faith was not strong enough. (My friend quit their church that instant.)

Believe what you want; realize that other equally devout Christians will hold beliefs with which you will disagree; realize also that many people will not agree with your view.

The nice thing about this country is that, while faith may inform legal viewpoints, it does not direct them.
 
Oh and "hogwiley" just a peep into my life..

My grandparents were in Lebanon..in a church..Yes I am Roman Catholic. Anyways..they were attacked inside the church when terrorists came in guns blazing and let off a few frags. They died..That's how they went.. So me? I carry whenever, wherever. Cause I get one life man. I'm not about to let anyone take that away from me.
 
MikeLeake: hog, if your faith is that strong, why do you carry at all?
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In an earlier post on this thread, he stated that he never bothered getting a permit because he lives in a low crime rural area. So I assume that another reason he does not carry is because he is obeying the law, and could not legally carry, because he does not have a permit. (Unless I misread his post), So I would assume he only carries in his vehicle, if permitted in his state. Also in his earlier post he indicated that a lot of people should not be issued permits at all.

Regarding carrying in Church, I figure that they did not carry swords back then to clean their finger nails but to stop robbers, muggers, and wild beasts. Criminals don't care what you believe, and won't hesitate to
victimize someone even in a Church. just my opinion. :)
 
Eric, are you sure that this guy is your friend? Does he have a crystal ball to know when you will be threatened, carjacked or road raged?

Tell him that most people feel safe right up to the moment when they don't any more.

Also, don't be surprised if he is jerking you around. He might be packing all the while he is telling you that you shouldn't pack. Give it some thought. It's your life and your decision is the only one that matters. If your friend is so contrary, he might not be qualified to be your friend.
 
No one has ever asked me if I'm carrying. If they did my answer would be an automatic "No" because no one needs to know. My wife and adult children are the only persons that know that I carry.

Additionally, letting someone know that you are carrying may be construed as a threat. If someone knows you are carrying they can call the police and accuse you of threatening them with it. The police when faced with two conflicting statement will in all likely arrest you simply because that's the least risky option.

I don't carry in church simply because I tuck in my shirt. But I do have one in the car.
 
not even my ex-girlfriend gave me crap for carrying, even if it was a cannon like my redhawk. In fact, she mostly encouraged it. Man, I miss her...
 
My friends

I can only name a few of my friends who do not carry. Most of them are from more liberal cities, but I never heard any ask why I carry. Plus the majority of us agree that we didn't make it through Iraq and Afghanistan to be killed by a crackhead in a Bigbox store parking lot for a fix.
 
It is better to have it and not need it, then need it and not have it.... First rule of a gun fight is to bring a gun!
 
I havent read the other post so someone else may have posted something similar to what im about to say..

Ask your friend the following..
1. Can you predict the future?
2. Do you know where a criminal is going to rob or kill next?
3. Can you guarntee a police officer is going to be there at the moment a bad guy tries to rob or kill me or my family?
4. Whats faster, my hand to my legally owned and lawfully used pistol or calling 911 and waiting for the police to arrive.
5. Are you aware the police have no legal obligation to respond to a 911 call for help? So I may be required to defend myself or take the consequences of not doing so.
6. How are you going to defend yourself or your family if someone attacks you on the street and you cant escape?
7. Can you run faster than a bad guys bullets?
8. Ever watch the news at night and see all the people who werent expecting to die at criminal hands that did... thats why I carry in addition to it being my right to do so..

Hope this helps in some small way.
 
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