AR Bill Advances: CC in Church

[PocketProtector642]

Bill to allow concealed handguns in churches advances
Posted on 03 February 2009
By Doug Thompson
Stephens Media
Story Link

LITTLE ROCK — A bill to allow concealed weapons permit holders to carry handguns into churches headed to the House floor Tuesday with a committee’s endorsement.

The House Judiciary Committee advanced House Bill 1237 by Rep. Beverly Pyle, R-Cedarville, on a voice vote.

“Outside of six hours of worship a week, our church is a workplace. But the law forbidding concealed carry in churches is in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said pastor Nathan Petty of the Beech Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Fordyce, testifying for the measure.

Petty told the committee he recently heard a gunshot from an armed robbery in the area. The pastor said he has a concealed carry permit but does not take a gun into church because of a moral obligation to follow the law of the land — until and unless the law conflicts with his religious beliefs.

He also said a parishioner who cleans the church late at night is alone there. She has a permit but does not carry her gun for the same reason, he said.

Speaking against the bill, John Phillips, pastor of Central Church of Christ in Little Rock, said he was shot twice during a church service 23 years ago and still has a bullet lodged in his spine. However, he said that he still opposed the bill because it fosters the idea that willingness to resort to violence is the only guarantee of safety.

Some committee members expressed concern that a church would have to post a sign saying it did not want guns on the premises if the congregation still wanted to bar them should Pyle’s bill become law.

The 1995 concealed carry permit law specifically prohibits concealed weapons in places of worship. HB 1237 would allow them but also would allow a congregation to ban guns from the church. If the church prohibits carrying, it would have to display a sign at its entrance saying so under the provisions of the bill.

Speaking for the bill, Grant Exton, executive director for the Arkansas Concealed Carry Association, said all but two states allow concealed carry weapons into churches. Of those, 42 allow churches the option of banning the weapons on their premises, he said.

Another good article here

Good job to those involved in pushing this. It looks like there are more than a couple pastors involved.

Also, perhaps those of you in either of those 2 states may want to push the issue from this angle (bolded). I like the "its a workplace too" argument. Though MN allows CC/OC at church, I have multiple family members that work at churches. I could see where this angle makes a lot of sense.

 

[Dokkalfar]

all but two states allow concealed carry weapons into churches

are you sure about that? I find it very hard to believe that AR and TX are the only states that dont permit that. I think Mr. Exton is a little misinformed. Though i could be wrong, though i doubt it.

Sec. 46.035. UNLAWFUL CARRYING OF HANDGUN BY LICENSE HOLDER. (a) A license holder commits an offense if the license holder carries a handgun on or about the license holder's person under the authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, and intentionally fails to conceal the handgun.

(b) A license holder commits an offense if the license holder intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries a handgun under the authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, regardless of whether the handgun is concealed, on or about the license holder's person:

(6) on the premises of a church, synagogue, or other established place of religious worship.

 

[PocketProtector642]

I was thinking AR and ND. I guess he was wrong.

 

[Dokkalfar]

Well going by a quick google search, CO allows it, as does FL. MI, does not. so that makes at least three that mix laws with the church

 

[bp78]

I believe NC is another which bans CC in Churches.

In North Carolina, concealed handguns may not be carried:

* In law enforcement or correctional facilities such as a prison;
* In financial institutions such as a bank;
* In any space occupied by state or federal employees, including state and federal courthouses;
* In schools or on school grounds;
* In areas of assemblies, parades, funerals or demonstrations;
* In any place where alcoholic beverages are sold and consumed (such as some restaurants);
* In any area where concealed handguns are prohibited by federal law;
* In any place of business that has posted a sign banning concealed weapons on its premises;
* By any person while consuming alcohol or while under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substances (unless obtained legally and taken as directed by a physician).

from http://www.ncdoj.com/law_enforcement/cle_handguns_reciprocity.jsp

 

[razorback2003]

Can Carry in TN

I can carry in a church in TN. I find it quite humorous that Arkansas has so many off limits places that it almost looks like the state is afraid of the people who have clean backgrounds , pass a class, and pay total $250 bucks between fees to the State Police and class...and then every now five years (used to be four) requalify on the range and take a refresher class. I paid $50 renewal fee when transferring my AR CHL to a TN carry permit and couldn't be happier with the system the TN Dept of Safety operates.

If you are on a journey, technically you can carry in a church with or without a license in Arkansas. If you are say a pastor or deacon or someone who is responsible for the building (similar to business owner), legally you should be able to carry in a church in Arkansas with or without a license.....then again i haven't been to any churches anywhere with metal detectors...so one's idea of being on a journey (I am when i visit Arkansas) may be used to carry a weapon.

Folks who claim the journey exemption can carry virtually anywhere in Arkansas without a license at 18 years old. It is an old law dating back to the late 1800's and many people carried on it before the state started issuing licenses in the mid 1990's.

 

[Prince Yamato]

I find it very hard to believe that AR and TX are the only states that dont permit that.

You can carry in church in TX. The law was amended in recent years.