LA: Bill for arming worshipers OK'd by State House Committee

[GreenStormCloud]

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/capital/index.ssf?/base/news-7/1272523573223580.xml&coll=1
Bill for arming worshipers OK'd
Churches could do so for securityThursday, April 29, 2010 By Ed AndersonCapital bureau

BATON ROUGE -- 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 House committee decided Wednesday.

The Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice voted 8-3 for House Bill 68 by Rep. Henry Burns, R-Shreveport, sending it to more debate on the House floor.

The bill 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. State law now bans weapons in houses of worship.

Burns said his bill does not force churches to participate.

]b]"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, D-Shreveport. "If we can't feel safe in church doing the business of the Lord, where else can we feel safe?"

Burns' bill was amended by Rep. Mack "Bodi" White, R-Central, to require a church that allows armed parishioners to notify all members in announcements from the pulpit or in the weekly bulletin or newsletter

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The antis need to find something new to predict doom over. That prediction just hasn't happened yet. But they keep on hoping for it.

[Ken Burch]

1. What the heck happens in those Louisiana churches, anyway?

I mean, c'mon...nobody's sermons go on THAT long...

:eyes:

Did people take guns into church in the Old West?

[paulsby]

2. they do in WA state nt

[Ken Burch]

3. Folks are taking "Praise the Lord and Pass The Ammunition" WAAAY too literal-like

:eyes:

[paulsby]

4. holy hand grenades are optional nt

[PavePusher]

10. And the number thou shall count shall be three, not four...

and five is right out!

[jazzhound]

12. "holy hand grenades are optional"

As a recovered Catholic altar boy............

:rofl:

[Euromutt]

7. They did in the Massachusetts Bay Colony

Okay, it was called a meeting house, not a church, but it served the same function. The New England Calvinist tradition of the men leaving church first stems from the fact that the men used to go out first, with their weapons, in the event that Indians, bandits, pirates or, later, the British might have showed up during the service.

[GreenStormCloud]

13. In early colonial days taking a gun to church was required.

The old west was actually quite tame, with a much lower crime rate than modern times.

Churches have been held up before, and have been the subject of mass shootings. Churches need protection too.

[HALO141]

18. Dude, have you ever BEEN to a Catholic wedding?!? n/t

[sharesunited]

5. Americans love guns and ammo more than they love Jesus.

[spin]

9. Luke 22 35-38 ...

35 And He said to them, "When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?" They said, "No, nothing."

36 And He said to them, "But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one.

37 "For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me, 'AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH TRANSGRESSORS'; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment."

38 They said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." And He said to them, "It is enough."

Obviously Jesus wasn't opposed to having a sword for self defense.

[jeepnstein]

14. Speak for yourself.

[Ernesto]

6. Mental Illness is alive and real nt

[PavePusher]

11. And churches have never suffered violent attacks.

Ever.

Right?

[Glassunion]

17. As to Pave's point...

Maybe you should read up on your history and your current news. And you will see that even in today's day and age, church goers, especially those whose skin might be a bit dark have for centuries now been the target of violent attacks by those intolerant of them at their church.

Be it either that they follow a different religion, speak a different language, wear funny things on their head, etc... What better place to harm a large group of them than at a church? Think about it... Where can one be guaranteed that those they wish to target are going to be present as a specific time, day of the week and that there will be a large number of them? Church.

So if you think that it is a mental illness that those who like to gather and celebrate their religion, and by doing so paint a large bullseye on themselves and take any precautions that they deem are necessary. Then you are gravely mistaken.

[spin]

8. Some states allow concealed carry in churches ...

I have never heard of a shooting in a church caused by a person with a concealed carry permit. There have been cases where a person with a concealed weapons stopped a shooter.

[rrneck]

15. It would come in handy

if you go to church in east Tennessee. Up there they're apt to hand you a rattlesnake in church.

[slackmaster]

16. The headline is misleading

It's not about arming anyone.