Some religious leaders say the ban is needed.
“I think that by continuing to arm ourselves, we’re perpetuating this cycle of violence that only ends up hurting the whole society,” said Bradley Schmeling, pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Atlanta. “And faith communities in particular should have the right to say no weapons in this place.”
“It seems to me that churches and synagogues and mosques ought to be able to be places of peace,” he said, “because our society needs that.”
Where is the outrage at the prospect that arms would be allowed in a place of sanctuary and peace? Think of the outrage at historic acts of violence in churches (e.g., Thomas a Becket or when Robert the Bruce killed John Comyn in Dumfries).
I would think that as private property they should each be able to decide on their own whether or not to allow guns.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is that there is a difference between the trespass charge that one would receive under property rights and having a firearm in a prohibited area that would probably from a violation under the ban.
ReplyDeleteWe've seen that a defiant trespasser can be just as much of a threat as a person who wilfully violates a ban. The penalties should be the same and as strict.
Guns in churches for self-defense purposes is even more of an absurdity then guns anywhere else.
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