So who CCW in church

[js415]

I think lots of people have CCW'ed when it was technically against the law

So what ?
No different than changing lanes without signalling.

In GA up until about 15 years ago it was against the law to have oral sex with your wife or girlfriend

I agree. I know lots of folks who carried before HB60, and who continue to carry now, without permission.

The biggest difference between carrying and an illegal lane change would be the first offense is a misdemeanor and then a felony if caught a second time carrying in a "house of worship". A lane change violation gets you a ticket, and hopefully nothing more.

Carrying in a "house of worship" without permission today gets you a violation, a fine, loss of license, and possibly the chance to never get a license again, due to a firearms violation.

Again, not trying to sway one way or the other, just wondering how people are working with their church to help stay legal.

Thanks,

Jerry

 

[klarktx]

I carry everywhere. So church, yes

 

[clever name]

Me.

 

[hseII]

Friendly manner taken. I guess by your analogy I have driven without car insurance for about 99% of my life. Idk, I don't really have a valid reason for you. I just don't think I would feel right about it. Not saying my thoughts are logical or rational, just not sure I would feel right about it.

One thing I can say is that I'm in a position of volunteer leadership. If it were to be found out that I carried, it would probably be a controversy amongst some of the members. Yes, plenty of people out there don't believe in carrying a gun especially in church. I would rather faith and theology be the focal point of my interaction/discussions with other church members than whether I should carry or not, especially in church. That's a higher priority to me than carrying a gun. Maybe this wouldn't be the case at all, but wouldn't necessarily want to test it. Other than that, I don't really have a great answer for you.

My Humble Opinion is to carry anyway, and carry concealed.

I assume you are a family man, and as the head of your house, your primary responsibility in a leadership role is to your family.

 

[brad sweet]

Here's a can of worms. Isn't carrying a gun for self-defense inside a house of faith rather self-defeating? Unless, of course, your attendance is little more than going through the motions.

Here is one" worm" crawling out, if someone has the nerve to shoot at someone in a church and i carry into church who do you think is obligated to remove the threat...to take up the sword...evil is evil even sitting in a church! may God make my aim true! be the sheep or be the Shepard!

 

[brad sweet]

This is meant in a friendly manner... why not?

We don't only carry car insurance on the day that we expect to have an accident.

One of the reasons that I carry every single day is that w/ Murphys Law I am confident that if "just one day" I didn't carry my gun or just forgot to I would single-handedly bring about the zombie apocalypse.

I feel the same way ! often wake up and say do i need to carry today but reality seeps in and I wake up more and realize the world is not a safe place and were ever I go it will be a little safer and better equipped to deal with old Murphy !

 

[Kornbread01]

U mean I wasn't supposed to b4?! Darn!

 

[SteelRinger]

For those of you that carried in a "house of worship", as OCGA worded it, before HB60 was passed:

1. Did you realize it was illegal and choose to make that decision based on your beliefs? Did you realize it was illegal even if your "pastor" or governing body told you it was OK?

2. Now that HB60 has passed, what has your "house of worship" done to "opt in" to church carry? Have they given written permission for just you, for a group of people, or the congregation in general? Does your governing body have a formal procedure in place for allowing carry? Do "YOU" have anything to back up your permission to carry, if it were to come to situation where someone accused you of carrying without permission?

I'm just asking for my general knowledge. Not trying to sway "house of worship" carry to one side or the other.

We at GCO are very much interested in how these procedures are being implemented.

Thanks for your feedback,

Jerry

Jerry,

I can let you know what we are doing at our church. I am on the Church Council. We just had our first meeting after HB60 took effect. We are the "governing body" in our church. We had a good discussion about HB60 but ultimately decided that it was a matter for the entire congregation to weigh in on. Therefore, we are providing our voting members all the information on the changes to HB60 and providing them a motion to vote on that would allow (or disallow) carry on our church property, with the right to enforce "Rules of Decorum", such as no open carry or no long guns. The vote will be on September 7th.

Until then, as a leader within my church, it is my responsibility to uphold the rules of our church and those include the laws of GA that are applicable to my church. Do I like being disarmed in church? Nope. But, as a leader, it is my duty to do things that I don't like in order to maintain discipline.

 

[mkdhotrod]

I don't feel the need to wear a seatbelt, but I wear it anyway. Same concept, be prepared at all times. It's your right and your duty after all.

They say 90% of the people in car accidents would have survived if they had wore a searbelt. Which is interesting considering my wife was going 80 down I20 and was ran off the road and HAD she worn her seat belt she would be dead. Rolled the car for about 100 ft. She walked away shaken.

 

[wardog58]

My dad is the pastor I collect the offering so I carry every time at church.