Carry at church

[Kahr33556]

I am a member of a church about 125 people plus kids.
My pastor knows me and a few others carry in church and has no problem with it.
I alway's pocket carry my LCP to church just because you never know.
I was thinking what good would it really be if I needed to use it ,it's a 5 yard gun.
Today I bumped it up a notch and carried my 9 maybe because of all the news on shootings.
I feel a lot more confident with my 9 able to make a head shot up to about 20 yards if needed with no problem.
My question how many of you carry if you go to church and what do you carry ?

 

[il_10]

It was just a little NAA .22 mag, but it rode in my pocket today at church. I'd be willing to bet I wasn't the only one carrying there, but I don't know of any others. For a church environment, where I'm shaking hands and hugging and so forth, concealment is my paramount concern. I rotate carry guns quite frequently, so it might be a PPK or a 1903 hammerless or a beretta 950, but I don't usually go with a full sized anything for church or formal occasions. Casual dress or rougher areas are different.

 

[smalls]

I haven't been to church in quite some time (10 years?), but I'd carry the same thing I carry every day, a 1911.

 

[Ankeny]

I feel a lot more confident with my 9 able to make a head shot up to about 20 yards if needed with no problem.

I have an LCP and it certainly wasn't made for headshots at 20 yards. A full size service gun, or even something mid-size would increase the odds... Kudos to your shooting ability and to your mental game. I don't think a headshot at 20 yards on an active shooter would be considered "no problem" for most folks carrying concealed.

 

[Lex Luthier]

There is a platoon sized carry team at my church. Hopefully we will never need to show our strength.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

Church is one of the most important places to carry, in my opinion. I live in an "iffy" church carry state, so I go smaller. I carry a Kahr CW in my waistband (with a jacket over it), and a Kel-Tec P32 in the pocket. One extra mag for each.

I teach children at Church, therefore I'd never be without arms. It's my responsibility.

 

[KDS]

I am currently studying to be a pastor and am on staff at my church. I carry both a full size 9mm M&P, and a Kel-Tec.

 

[Kahr33556]

I say no problem but thats at a range probley under pressure a little harder 10 to 15 no problem

also how do you quote people on this forum ?

 

[preachnhunt]

I carry an LCP at church because it conceals very well with dress clothes. Since I am the preacher I also have trouble seeing the value of anything that is more accurate at longer ranges, because I can't shoot toward the congregation anyway. There are others who carry there who would be in a better position to respond to any threat from the first pew to the back of the sanctuary.

 

[beatledog7]

I feel a lot more confident with my 9 able to make a head shot up to about 20 yards if needed with no problem.

Handgun. Active shooter. Adrenaline pumping. Crowded auditorium... a headshot at 20 yards? Not a shot I'd take.

Kahr, I realize you backed off this self assessment, and I was glad to see that you did. I don't know your skill level, but I've seen a lot of pretty darn good shooters make a head shot at 20 yards only about 50-60% of the time under controlled range conditions. Every other shot a clean miss.

I wouldn't recommend a 20-yard head shot under stress to an expert. I'd take it at 10-12 if I had no choice, but I'd much prefer 2-3 to COM at that range.

 

[VonFatman]

I've not attend churches that prohibit. I think people are beginning to consider CCW sooner...you can not depend upon others. We must take care of ourselves.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I don't attend church but a Pastor lives in back of me.
He personally doesn't have any interest in guns but he is in favor of any qualified person carrying in his church. He (and wife) are well aware that a no gun church is just another killing zone.

 

[Skribs]

One of the guys at my parents' church said if anyone ever walked in and started shooting they'd get maybe three steps before several members of the congretation put holes into him.

 

[floydster]

Our church usually has around 200 people for a service, and I greet once a month.
I always carry my 9mm EMP wether I greet or not.
Thier are other members thru out the service that carry also, the pastor is happy about it

One never knows.

Smokeyloads

 

[Fryerpower]

I was talking to the local guy who does the HCP (CCW) classes here in town to try and set up a teacher's only class. He is booked through January. Interestingly, one of the days he is booked he is doing a class for/sponsored by a chuch! Probably safe to say they are happy to have you carry there.

Jim

 

[Texan Scott]

Join the choir. You'll get a seat with a better view of the room, and you can conceal about anything under a choir robe.

 

[Byrd666]

I don't often go to Church due to work time(s) but, the last couple times I did go, one of the "regulars" noticed a minor bulge. He's a street Cop, so it would stand to reason, and he introduced himself as such. He also said I wasn't the only one that carried. After a few minutes he introduced me to the Pastor and a couple Deacons that were into the shooting sports. Long story short, They said,"If it ain't posted, then carry what you like." This was a few months ago.

 

[somerandomguy]

FN FiveSeveN, best handgun ever made imo - regardless of what 1911 sissies and glock babies say.

 

[Intrepid Dad]

I carry a Springfield XD 45 Service model (4" barrel) with two extra mags.

 

[sleepyone]

I usually carry a 642 in my front pocket when its warm or my jacket. Several people carry in our church. I half-jokingly told our pastor if a shooter came in he just needs to duck behind the pulpit to avoid the cross-fire.

 

[saenzrich]

+1 join the choir...HaHa...

 

[MrTwigg]

My Pastor would prefer there were no guns at Sunday service. Since the "armor of God" only protects one from spiritual harm, I carry.

Used to pocket carry a mouse gun now it's my 1911 with a spare mag. Had to go out and buy me a sports jacket to cover my rig.

 

[zxcvbob]

Church is the only place where I always carry. Usually a Ruger Security Six. On special occasions, like "Sanctity of Life Sunday" and Easter, I also carry a Kel-tec BUG.

It's a "be prepared" thing, I really don't think I'll ever need to use it. I hope not anyway.

I feel a lot more confident with my 9 able to make a head shot up to about 20 yards if needed with no problem.

I'm a bullseye shooter, so head shots would be easy if the head was a stationary sheet of paper. (That's usually not the case.) I plan to shoot COM. I recommend you do the same.

 

[msb45]

1911, 99% of the time.

When I had to dress-up with for my daughters confirmation I had a .380 in my blazer pocket and a .38 on my ankle. Looking at the family picture with the Bishop you'd never know.

Many Christians are targets in this world. I think this will be more apparent in the US over time.

 

[breakingcontact]

It's a shame, but once you learn to think with situational awareness, it's just automatic.

I was thinking about different scenarios while sitting in church today. Looking for cover/concealment.

Us CCW (CHL) folks may not be able to stop all of these tragedies, but we can certainly end them earlier and hopefully in time, deter them from happening.

Church service attendance is a happy time for most, those of us who are awake, realize just how vulnerable of a gathering it is and we take up arms to protect ourselves and the innocents around us.