I saw this article over at "The Christian Post" today:
Neb. Lawmakers Advance Guns in Churches Bill
A Nebraska bill that would allow church security guards to carry concealed handguns advanced in the state legislature on Thursday.
The church provision was tacked on as an amendment to a measure that prohibits cities from having their own ban on concealed weapons.
State lawmakers voted 29-15 to adopt the amendment and 40-4 to advance the bill.
The amendment was introduced by Sen. Beau McCoy of Omaha whose decision was prompted by recent shootings and violence at other churches.
"A house of worship is a sacred place," McCoy said, according to Fremont Tribune. "And as such, it should be kept that way."
The Rev. Harry Buse, pastor of St. Leo Catholic Church in Omaha, said he didn't like the idea of arming security guards in houses of worship.
But he also commented, "I would like to think that we wouldn't need guns in church, though I realize times have changed," according to the Omaha World-Herald.
Sen. McCoy, who attends Westside Church in Omaha, is convinced that the amendment would enhance safety in churches. He pointed to the 2007 shooting at New Life Church in Colorado Springs that could have resulted in numerous deaths but ended when a church security guard shot the gunman.
Months after the shooting, New Life's senior pastor, the Rev. Brady Boyd, recommended that all churches have armed guards.
Opposing the amendment, Sen. Brenda Council called it "antithetical to the whole premise of a place of worship."
"If you believe in the power of prayer, you don't need someone in the church who's strapped" with a gun, Council said, according to Omaha World-Herald.
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A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
I believe strongly in the 2nd Amendment. I believe the wording is clear. I believe there can be no mistake or denying that citizens of the United States have a Constitutional right to keep and bear arms.
With that being said, would this Nebraska bill allowing church security guards to carry concealed weapons on church property give churchgoers a sense of protection from loonies who might want to shoot up a pastor and some attendees, or does it completely fly in the face of the church building/grounds as being a sacred place of worship free from firearms?
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5 comments:
Just because we are Christians doesn't mean we are stupid. More and more public schools in our area are doing this very thing so why not a church. I have a license to carry a concealed weapon because you never know what a day may bring. If I want (I never have done this) I could take it to church with me and be the secret guard! Without a gun in the hands of the good guys gives the bad guys a tremendous advantage to do great damage.
I agree Ike -
I went Saturday with some friends to an indoor range to practice my Constitutional freedom of bearing arms.
I wonder how many mass murders rampages could have been stopped or limited if more concealed licensed citizens had been excercising their freedoms?
I am a firm supporter of the 2nd Amendment, owning and shooting guns for recreation and sport throughout my life. My father, who introduced me to the concept of responsible gun ownership, believes that there is nothing wrong with a Christian defending himself, killing an armed intruder for instance. I agreed at first, but now am not so sure. As a kid I would ask him, "Why can't we just wound him instead of killing him?" Now I believe that if you pull the gun to defend yourself you don't need to aim to wound. My question now is should I pull the gun to defend myself and my family? Do I send the guy to hell?
My father has given me many examples and verses from the bible supporting his belief. I also heard the example of an Amish family where the Amish women in the household were continually raped and abused by intruders who kept coming back because the Amish believed they shouldn't take violent action to save their family. They eventually moved away.
Thoughts?
Good points Jonathan -
I guess it all comes down to what the situation is the moment you realize you are going to have to defend yourself and your family.
If an armed intruder comes into my house and draws down on me - I would believe if I had a weapon in my hand, that I would fire first.
If I were able to 'freeze' an un-armed intruder and take away the threat, I would hope I would have a chance to witness to him.
I pray I am never in that situation to begin with.
I guess I can't really pass much comment here.
As a Brit, we don't have the 'gun culture' you guys in the US have, so the idea of carrying a concealed weapon (in church of all places!) is kind of bizarre.
However, I have been keeping up to date on the news and if the threat of people shooting up churches is as it appears to be, then I've no problem with churchgoers protecting themselves and their families.
Ike said;
"Without a gun in the hands of the good guys gives the bad guys a tremendous advantage to do great damage."
If only it were that black and white! What about the 'good guy' that has a nervous breakdown? What about the 'bad guy' that needs the gun to protect his family from the 'worse guy'?
There's a lot of ways to look at this, but for the most part I think it's up to responsible members of the community to 'keep up' with the threat posed by the criminal element, and respond accordingly.
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