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Church is a place where people come together to profess their faith. It is a place of worship. Regardless of the type of religion, churches and other places of worship are sacred places. Violence has no place within their walls. Unfortunately, when it comes to criminals, no place is safe and sacred. In light of the 2015 Charleston, SC church shooting and the 2017 Texas church shooting, a matter of major concern among congregations is whether to ban or allow their worshipers to concealed carry in church.
Should people be taught how to concealed carry in church in the first place? Many churchgoers justify church concealed carry by stating their right to bear arms as provided in the 2nd Amendment should also apply inside places of worship. Most states in fact do not prohibit concealed carry permit holders or law enforcement officers from carrying weapons on church premises. With that in mind, we’ll delve into the issue of carrying firearms in churches and other places of worship.
TRIGGERING THE CALL TO ARMS
The call to allow concealed carrying in churches was sparked by a series of incidents all across the United States. The most recent of such incidents occurred in November 2017 when a gunman, later identified as Devin Patrick Kelley, clad in black and a ballistic vest and carrying a military-style rifle, opened fire on parishioners during a Sunday service at a small Baptist church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Kelley’s actions resulted in the death of at least 26 people. The victims ranged in age from 5 to 72 years old. Among the dead were several children, a pregnant woman, and the 14-year old daughter of the pastor. The incident is the deadliest mass shooting in Texas History.
Another incident that ignited the debate was the assault at Anna First Baptist Church in Illinois in 2009.
In 2009 in the state of Illinois, 74-year old Mary Shepard, treasurer of Anna First Baptist Church was the victim of a brutal assault. This gruesome attack resulted in a fractured skull for 74-year old church along with further injuries such as a broken nose and cheekbones. This attack prompted a public conversation about carrying firearms in houses of worship for protection.
THE STATE OF CONCEALED CARRY AND OPEN CARRY IN CHURCHES
As far as concealed carrying in churches is concerned, there are 41 states that treat carrying firearms in churches no different than carrying on private properties. From among these 41 states, 8 (California, Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island) are “may-issue” states. In may-issue states permits are discretionary, usually at the local but also possibly the state level. Meanwhile, there are 13 states (Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming, and West Virginia) that do not require a permit to concealed carry.
Nebraska and Louisiana are the only 2 states that prohibit carrying in churches. In Nebraska, though, an armed security team is allowed to carry firearms in such places if they have the correct permits. Louisiana has similar laws regarding security teams though this state requires that permit holders complete 8 hours of training per year in order to do so. 7 states and Washington D.C. allow church leaders to concealed carry on church premises.
In most states, open carry is legal. Only 5 states currently ban the open carry of holstered handguns in the majority of public places. 26 states allow open carry generally, while 6 states allow open carry only in certain areas. In Pennsylvania, for instance, a permit is required to open carry in the city of Philadelphia and similarly, in Colorado, a permit is required to open carry in Denver. Iowa requires such a permit within city limits. 13 states require a permit to open carry.
WHAT DO CHURCHES SAY ABOUT CONCEALED CARRY IN THEIR CONGREGATIONS?
When asking yourself how to concealed carry in churches, the first thing you have to consider is state law. While 48 states allow the carrying of firearms in churches and places of worship, it all still boils down to the viewpoint of the churches themselves.
Speaking of Christianity at large, it’s impossible to really come to a consensus on church concealed carry. Given the size of this faith and its large amount of diversity not to mention its numerous denominations, opinions differ.
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes referred to as the Mormon Church), guns and other weapons are considered inappropriate inside a place of worship. However, if you are properly licensed and trained, church leaders don’t expressly forbid concealed or open carry on church premises.
Even within a large organization such as the Catholic Church, views tend to differ. Individual bishops seem to hold different opinions on the carrying of guns inside churches. It’s unlikely that the 400 active and retired Catholic bishops in the US will be able to come to a unanimous decision on this issue anytime soon.
Other organizations have policies if not necessarily strict laws regarding carrying in churches. The United Methodist Church directs its congregations to put up signage banning firearms on the doors of its churches, while in the Episcopal-Anglican Church, this decision is left up to individual churches.
Similarly in Judaism, Islam, and other religions there exists a difference of opinion among members and there is no unanimous consensus. Some groups are in favor of concealed carry in places of worship while others are staunchly against it.
TO CARRY OR NOT TO CARRY
One of the main points of contention church leaders have when addressing how to concealed carry in church is that it might violate certain Biblical teachings. Faith often has many rules about violence, self defense, and caring for others which may sometimes seem to conflict. Catholics, for example, are taught to be their “brother’s keeper.” It is their duty to protect and watch over God’s children. Secondly, the Scriptures continuously seem to support the use of force in self defense and Jesus himself is quoted telling his disciples to sell their garments in order to buy a sword, though this has been interpreted many ways. In the Old Testament, many interpret that we are told to be responsible for taking up our own swords and protecting ourselves.
Still, decisions about church concealed carry are not easy for church leaders. Some church leaders fear that allowing too many people to carry firearms in church, even with the best intentions, may backfire and accidentally lead to tragedy.
If the numbers and reports lead you to believe that these sacred places are no longer safe it’s worth thinking about the idea of allowing concealed carry in places of worship when we talk about efforts to protect congregations. The shooting in Sutherland Springs, the attack on Mary Shepard in Illinois, attacks on dozens of mosques, bomb threats at Jewish community centers…all of these are harrowing events and reflect that places of worship may not be as safe as they once were.
Research conducted by criminologist Dallas Drake and two interns revealed surprising findings regarding a rise in church violence. The National Church Shooting Database revealed that there were 139 shooting incidents in churches between 1980 and 2005 (note that this study does not include data from non-Christian places of worship). Drake and his team found a disturbing trend when updating their database: in just the 10 years between 2006-2016 there were 147 incidents of shooting in Christian churches.
Drake and his team also considered and posited reasons why churches are targeted by shooters. Places of worship are light on security, they draw large crows, and they are places where people of different colors and creeds converge and commune, making them strong targets for racist individuals.
DECIDING TO CARRY
Ultimately, it will be up to church leaders as to whether or not they will permit concealed carrying in churches. Here are some options that church leaders should consider when deciding to permit concealed carry in their premises.
Hire Only Trained Professionals
Churches in high risk areas have been using this approach for years. By hiring professionally trained and equipped security agencies or off-duty law enforcement officers, church leaders can shift liability away from themselves and onto an outside agency. These trained professionals are knowledgeable in areas such as crisis intervention, de-escalation, and non-lethal tactics, something which civilians with concealed carry permits are not trained for. These groups can operate either as uniformed personnel or in plain clothes.
Create an In-House, Volunteer, or Trained Security Team
The popularity of this approach has grown in recent years. You can send your own in-house security team to a training center or conference, have someone train your volunteers, or do video or online training. Regardless of the training regimen you elect to follow, make sure that the training will include emergency/crisis identification and response and de-escalation, as well as use of force. The ideal scenario is a “hands-on” training so that your team can practice, be corrected, and have their tactics reviewed and refined by experts.
Concealed Carry Allowed by All
This is another option that leaders can consider when determining how to concealed carry in church. However, this approach entails a lot of reflection on your part. If you take this approach, how confident are you that the people in your congregation will make sound and correct decisions? Wrong decisions in a crisis can result in a bad situation becoming worse. Anyone concealed carrying a firearm should be trained and always practice gun safety but crisis situations pose unique risks.
CHOOSING THE BEST APPROACH
In deciding which approach to church concealed carry you might adopt, the following issues need to be addressed:
Civilian concealed carry permit holders have little or no consistent tactical training in dealing with an armed assailant on the street or an active shooter in a crowded church.
While active duty law enforcement officers are trained to respond to an active shooter incident, statistically they miss their intended target an average 7 out of 10 times in engagements between 3 feet and 21 feet. This means that in the thick of a confrontation, 70 percent of the shots fired could go somewhere other than their intended target.
How will a responding law enforcement officer or church security personnel determine a friend or foe if several people in the congregation deploy firearms in response to an active shooter at once?
How would the church be made liable for the actions of a member of the congregation who shoots a person causing a disturbance if that person has not reached the legal threshold for employing deadly force?
If preclusion (not allowing members to carry) was adopted, how would it be enforced? How would the congregation be notified about the policy without creating an impression that the church was a gun-free zone and therefore possibly unprotected?
Whichever option you adopt, make sure that your policy about church concealed carry is posted in and around the church premises.
TIPS ON CONCEALED CARRYING IN CHURCH
If concealed carrying in churches is prohibited in your congregation, should you ask permission? Some say no, since you have the legal right to carry a weapon. However, it could always be a good idea to ask if there is a security team in place. If there isn’t one, you could volunteer to start one. With that in mind, here are some tips you can consider when responding to an active shooter incident in your place of worship.
Is There an Organized Response Team?
It is extremely important for you to find out if your church has an organized security team or response plan. Responding alone when there are already organized responders will make it difficult for you to be effective and could inhibit the organized responders, those who are most capable of getting the job done. Ask your church leaders if they are aware of any security team in place. If not, you could offer to organize a volunteer group.
Positioning in the Building or Chapel
If you intend to take matters into your own hands, position yourself as close to the entrance as possible. This way, you make yourself the first line of defense you’re also in the best place to observe the entrance for any incoming threats. You can also monitor behavior of other congregation members from this position.
Familiarity and Behavior Observation Is Critical
If something bad is to happen in your place of worship, chances are the threat will come from an outsider and not from a member of your congregation. As much as possible, exert an effort to recognize faces so you are able to pick out strangers and new attendees. Observe the behavior of new attendees. Trust your instincts. Offer them your friendship but watch their movements as well.
Act Decisively
When asking yourself how to concealed carry in church, always keep in mind that a firearm should be a last resort, only brought into a situation after all other possible responses have been exhausted. Your main concern is to save lives without drawing your firearm.
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How To Concealed Carry in Church: Church Concealed Carry
The GMW Concealed Carry Gun Pack. Now available now on Amazon.com.
BUY NOW
BUY NOW
Church is a place where people come together to profess their faith. It is a place of worship. Regardless of the type of religion, churches and other places of worship are sacred places. Violence has no place within their walls. Unfortunately, when it comes to criminals, no place is safe and sacred. In light of the 2015 Charleston, SC church shooting and the 2017 Texas church shooting, a matter of major concern among congregations is whether to ban or allow their worshipers to concealed carry in church.
Should people be taught how to concealed carry in church in the first place? Many churchgoers justify church concealed carry by stating their right to bear arms as provided in the 2nd Amendment should also apply inside places of worship. Most states in fact do not prohibit concealed carry permit holders or law enforcement officers from carrying weapons on church premises. With that in mind, we’ll delve into the issue of carrying firearms in churches and other places of worship.
TRIGGERING THE CALL TO ARMS
The call to allow concealed carrying in churches was sparked by a series of incidents all across the United States. The most recent of such incidents occurred in November 2017 when a gunman, later identified as Devin Patrick Kelley, clad in black and a ballistic vest and carrying a military-style rifle, opened fire on parishioners during a Sunday service at a small Baptist church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Kelley’s actions resulted in the death of at least 26 people. The victims ranged in age from 5 to 72 years old. Among the dead were several children, a pregnant woman, and the 14-year old daughter of the pastor. The incident is the deadliest mass shooting in Texas History.
Another incident that ignited the debate was the assault at Anna First Baptist Church in Illinois in 2009.
In 2009 in the state of Illinois, 74-year old Mary Shepard, treasurer of Anna First Baptist Church was the victim of a brutal assault. This gruesome attack resulted in a fractured skull for 74-year old church along with further injuries such as a broken nose and cheekbones. This attack prompted a public conversation about carrying firearms in houses of worship for protection.
THE STATE OF CONCEALED CARRY AND OPEN CARRY IN CHURCHES
As far as concealed carrying in churches is concerned, there are 41 states that treat carrying firearms in churches no different than carrying on private properties. From among these 41 states, 8 (California, Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island) are “may-issue” states. In may-issue states permits are discretionary, usually at the local but also possibly the state level. Meanwhile, there are 13 states (Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming, and West Virginia) that do not require a permit to concealed carry.
Nebraska and Louisiana are the only 2 states that prohibit carrying in churches. In Nebraska, though, an armed security team is allowed to carry firearms in such places if they have the correct permits. Louisiana has similar laws regarding security teams though this state requires that permit holders complete 8 hours of training per year in order to do so. 7 states and Washington D.C. allow church leaders to concealed carry on church premises.
In most states, open carry is legal. Only 5 states currently ban the open carry of holstered handguns in the majority of public places. 26 states allow open carry generally, while 6 states allow open carry only in certain areas. In Pennsylvania, for instance, a permit is required to open carry in the city of Philadelphia and similarly, in Colorado, a permit is required to open carry in Denver. Iowa requires such a permit within city limits. 13 states require a permit to open carry.
WHAT DO CHURCHES SAY ABOUT CONCEALED CARRY IN THEIR CONGREGATIONS?
When asking yourself how to concealed carry in churches, the first thing you have to consider is state law. While 48 states allow the carrying of firearms in churches and places of worship, it all still boils down to the viewpoint of the churches themselves.
Speaking of Christianity at large, it’s impossible to really come to a consensus on church concealed carry. Given the size of this faith and its large amount of diversity not to mention its numerous denominations, opinions differ.
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes referred to as the Mormon Church), guns and other weapons are considered inappropriate inside a place of worship. However, if you are properly licensed and trained, church leaders don’t expressly forbid concealed or open carry on church premises.
Even within a large organization such as the Catholic Church, views tend to differ. Individual bishops seem to hold different opinions on the carrying of guns inside churches. It’s unlikely that the 400 active and retired Catholic bishops in the US will be able to come to a unanimous decision on this issue anytime soon.
Other organizations have policies if not necessarily strict laws regarding carrying in churches. The United Methodist Church directs its congregations to put up signage banning firearms on the doors of its churches, while in the Episcopal-Anglican Church, this decision is left up to individual churches.
Similarly in Judaism, Islam, and other religions there exists a difference of opinion among members and there is no unanimous consensus. Some groups are in favor of concealed carry in places of worship while others are staunchly against it.
TO CARRY OR NOT TO CARRY
One of the main points of contention church leaders have when addressing how to concealed carry in church is that it might violate certain Biblical teachings. Faith often has many rules about violence, self defense, and caring for others which may sometimes seem to conflict. Catholics, for example, are taught to be their “brother’s keeper.” It is their duty to protect and watch over God’s children. Secondly, the Scriptures continuously seem to support the use of force in self defense and Jesus himself is quoted telling his disciples to sell their garments in order to buy a sword, though this has been interpreted many ways. In the Old Testament, many interpret that we are told to be responsible for taking up our own swords and protecting ourselves.
Still, decisions about church concealed carry are not easy for church leaders. Some church leaders fear that allowing too many people to carry firearms in church, even with the best intentions, may backfire and accidentally lead to tragedy.
If the numbers and reports lead you to believe that these sacred places are no longer safe it’s worth thinking about the idea of allowing concealed carry in places of worship when we talk about efforts to protect congregations. The shooting in Sutherland Springs, the attack on Mary Shepard in Illinois, attacks on dozens of mosques, bomb threats at Jewish community centers…all of these are harrowing events and reflect that places of worship may not be as safe as they once were.
Research conducted by criminologist Dallas Drake and two interns revealed surprising findings regarding a rise in church violence. The National Church Shooting Database revealed that there were 139 shooting incidents in churches between 1980 and 2005 (note that this study does not include data from non-Christian places of worship). Drake and his team found a disturbing trend when updating their database: in just the 10 years between 2006-2016 there were 147 incidents of shooting in Christian churches.
Drake and his team also considered and posited reasons why churches are targeted by shooters. Places of worship are light on security, they draw large crows, and they are places where people of different colors and creeds converge and commune, making them strong targets for racist individuals.
DECIDING TO CARRY
Ultimately, it will be up to church leaders as to whether or not they will permit concealed carrying in churches. Here are some options that church leaders should consider when deciding to permit concealed carry in their premises.
Hire Only Trained Professionals
Churches in high risk areas have been using this approach for years. By hiring professionally trained and equipped security agencies or off-duty law enforcement officers, church leaders can shift liability away from themselves and onto an outside agency. These trained professionals are knowledgeable in areas such as crisis intervention, de-escalation, and non-lethal tactics, something which civilians with concealed carry permits are not trained for. These groups can operate either as uniformed personnel or in plain clothes.
Create an In-House, Volunteer, or Trained Security Team
The popularity of this approach has grown in recent years. You can send your own in-house security team to a training center or conference, have someone train your volunteers, or do video or online training. Regardless of the training regimen you elect to follow, make sure that the training will include emergency/crisis identification and response and de-escalation, as well as use of force. The ideal scenario is a “hands-on” training so that your team can practice, be corrected, and have their tactics reviewed and refined by experts.
Concealed Carry Allowed by All
This is another option that leaders can consider when determining how to concealed carry in church. However, this approach entails a lot of reflection on your part. If you take this approach, how confident are you that the people in your congregation will make sound and correct decisions? Wrong decisions in a crisis can result in a bad situation becoming worse. Anyone concealed carrying a firearm should be trained and always practice gun safety but crisis situations pose unique risks.
CHOOSING THE BEST APPROACH
In deciding which approach to church concealed carry you might adopt, the following issues need to be addressed:
Whichever option you adopt, make sure that your policy about church concealed carry is posted in and around the church premises.
TIPS ON CONCEALED CARRYING IN CHURCH
If concealed carrying in churches is prohibited in your congregation, should you ask permission? Some say no, since you have the legal right to carry a weapon. However, it could always be a good idea to ask if there is a security team in place. If there isn’t one, you could volunteer to start one. With that in mind, here are some tips you can consider when responding to an active shooter incident in your place of worship.
Is There an Organized Response Team?
It is extremely important for you to find out if your church has an organized security team or response plan. Responding alone when there are already organized responders will make it difficult for you to be effective and could inhibit the organized responders, those who are most capable of getting the job done. Ask your church leaders if they are aware of any security team in place. If not, you could offer to organize a volunteer group.
Positioning in the Building or Chapel
If you intend to take matters into your own hands, position yourself as close to the entrance as possible. This way, you make yourself the first line of defense you’re also in the best place to observe the entrance for any incoming threats. You can also monitor behavior of other congregation members from this position.
Familiarity and Behavior Observation Is Critical
If something bad is to happen in your place of worship, chances are the threat will come from an outsider and not from a member of your congregation. As much as possible, exert an effort to recognize faces so you are able to pick out strangers and new attendees. Observe the behavior of new attendees. Trust your instincts. Offer them your friendship but watch their movements as well.
Act Decisively
When asking yourself how to concealed carry in church, always keep in mind that a firearm should be a last resort, only brought into a situation after all other possible responses have been exhausted. Your main concern is to save lives without drawing your firearm.