Virginians could legally bring their guns to church under a bill that cleared the state Senate this week and sparked an emotional debate over whether packing heat in a house of worship constitutes a snub to the Almighty. "Psalm 46 said, 'God is our refuge and strength,'" Sen. Lionell Spruill Sr., D, said as he argued against the measure Thursday. "Now we are saying with this bill, we no longer trust in God." The bill repeals a law thought to date to Colonial times which makes it a misdemeanor to "carry any gun, pistol, bowie knife, dagger or other dangerous weapon without good and sufficient reason, to a place of worship" during religious services.
While Virginia has a strong gun culture and some of the nation's most lax firearms laws, churches have been gun-free zones - although the "good and sufficient reason" language offers a loophole. In 2011, then-Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, R, issued an opinion that the ban would not apply to someone with a concealed-carry permit. Some Republicans contend that makes the existing law unenforceable. They also said plenty of Virginians are already coming to Jesus (or Allah or whomever) armed. Sen. Richard Black, R, wants to repeal the law. He made note of mass shootings at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin in 2012 and at an African Methodist church in South Carolina in 2015 as he pitched his bill on the Senate floor.
God how I wish I could live in a back water american country.
Leo Miller
Begome :-DD
Lincoln Nelson
It is pretty winnie the pooh cool sometimes lol
Zachary Murphy
This is already the norm all over the South
Evan Gomez
...
Ayden Hernandez
No it isn't. People don't take their guns to church. I grew up in a tiny 2,000 person East Texas town and nobody ever came to church armed. Because it's stupid.
Austin Garcia
How can the senate tell churches what to do? If a church doesn't want guns, the state can't force them to allow it. First Amendment.
Kevin Phillips
A church cannot infringe upon the second amendment right of its members. A “gun-free zone” is just a hunting preserve anyway.
Austin Bailey
The ideal would have been for this to be decided independently as is commonly done with other private establishments.
The problem in this country and the world for that matter is too many private entities want to behave like their own nation and circumvent the nation's laws as much as they can.
This would be useful toward protecting from tragedies like those which have been occuring recently, that is what the weapons are there for after all.
Aiden Kelly
A church is private property. Just like I can tell you to not bring guns into my house, a church can tell you not to bring guns into the building. Your rights end where mine begin.
Carson Ross
Such is also why some churches have not been able to be used as refugee sanctuaries.
Xavier Foster
i'm a damn yankee so they won't let me have a real gun
Charles Mitchell
i-is that a threat?
Jeremiah Flores
I grew up in a 1,000 person north Oklahoma town and nobody ever left home without a piece on them.
Kevin Rogers
Go away satan. You are purposefully misunderstanding him. Sodomy isn't a right. Protecting one's self, property, and family is.
Yankee-LARPer begone. On topic: its self-defeating to wear a gun to church. It makes sense if you're in a war-zone, but in America?
Nicholas Rodriguez
Church shootings happen. They'll probably start happening more in places like Arkansas, with leftards chimping out over the Ten Commandments statue and the like.
Benjamin Ross
I really wish I lived in a nice place like that.
Brayden Cruz
Church shootings are more rare than school shootings. Just lock it up in your car and pick it up afterwards.
Christian Long
I really don't care. It does me no good in an emergency of it's locked in my car. It's like having a jack for my car and keeping it in my house when I go somewhere.
Hudson Roberts
I don't get why people are getting upset over this. Bringing a gun with you to church isn't about making a statement that you don't trust God to protect you. If anything, I'd feel safer knowing my fellow parishioners also concealed carried firearms. God protects the people he loves in various ways. Sometimes it's through an armed populace. I'm not going to open carry my L1A1 and start running breach and clear drills to make a scene and show off my sick firepower, but when I get a CCW permit I'll always try to be carrying when I attend church. I love and respect my parish too much to leave them undefended.
Jayden Perry
Virginian here.
Someone at my church always has a loaded gun. This is a new procedure my church has adopted as of last year. A group of the church elders, in secret, draw straws to see who brings their handgun next Sunday so no one knows who is carrying.
I sure wish my country allowed me to have the ability to defend myself and my fellow brothers
Brayden Sanchez
I understand this, I really do (heck, I even sell guns for a living right now) but the prohibition on weapons in churches is ancient. And more morbidly, wouldn't the church be the best place to die in? Gunned down as a martyr while praising the Lord. I'm not saying we should aspire to that fate, but if you have to get shot somewhere why not there?
I carry daily as well, but I leave the gats in the car for church. My state also doesn't allow carry unless authorized by the priest or pastor and my priest hasn't said anything about it nor have I asked.
Tyler Edwards
Dylann Roof
James Price
Certainly being a martyr is cool and all but you have to think of the other people, your gun isn't there just to defend yourself.
Christian Richardson
Sutherland springs
Levi Peterson
I imagine a bunch of people from Zig Forums going to church armed and thinking they're justified in shooting everyone for "heresy".
BANG BANG BANG
Logan Reed
I'm sorry, but this isn't Zig Forums. Your delusions mean nothing to us here.r
