Louisiana Bishops Rebuff New State Gun Law: “We Don’t Think It’s Appropriate To Have Guns

[cal04]

Louisiana Bishops Rebuff New State Gun Law: “We Don’t Think It’s Appropriate To Have Guns In Churches”
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/07/21/bishops-versus-jindal-guns/

Earlier this month, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) signed a bill into law that allows people to bring concealed weapons into places of worship. Anyone who passes a background check and completes “eight hours of tactical training each year” can be designated “as part of a security force” for “churches, mosques, synagogues or other houses of worship” that allow carriers of concealed weapons. USA Today reported this week that Catholic churches in Louisiana will still not permit congregants to bring guns to their services:

Concealed handguns won’t be allowed in Roman Catholic churches, despite a new state law allowing them.

“We don’t think it is appropriate to have guns in churches,” Danny Loar, executive director of the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops — the church’s public policy arm in Louisiana, said Monday. …

Bishops discussed the issue when reviewing bills, Loar said.

“The bishops decided that, if the bill became law, the bishops would let their pastors know that this would not be permissible in Catholic churches,” Loar said.

The previous law let only law enforcement officials carry concealed weapons into churches.

Local faith leaders began speaking out against the proposal even before it became law. In June, Catholic Archbishop Gregory Aymond said, “Church is supposed to be a place of sanctuary. The idea of guns there — I’m pretty skeptical.”

And, even though the bill’s principal champion, state Rep. Henry Burns (R), claimed that the new policy would make houses of worship in “declining neighborhoods” safer, local clergy deny that concealed weapons would be any help. “We’ve been here 29 years, and there’s never been a time that a gun would have solved anything,” said John Pierre, a church elder in “a gritty Central City neighborhood.” Reverend John Raphael, whose congregants “had to duck for cover when gunfire suddenly broke out nearby” after one Sunday service, still “said an armed presence in the sanctuary is incompatible with what a church is supposed to be.”

(h/t TPM)

[Hoopla Phil]

1. Correct me if I'm wrong but they can prohibit guns in their church. Just not prohibit guns

in other Church's. IMO that is they way it should be.

[virginia mountainman]

You are correct...

But, that fact does not get reported in MSM..

Just imagine, that poor pastor, has NO POWER, to dictate what goes on in another church!! O GAWD, the HORROR!!!!!!!!!

[slackmaster]

2. Churches are legally private property, so a church has a right to ban guns

The Bishop is an ass, and Fuck the Pope.

[saigon68]

4. His guys need to keep their weapons behind their zippers

[dtexdem]

10. Hurrah for the Church policy.

Notwithstanding the bishop's likely being an ass.

[spin]

3. That might make Catholic churches in Louisiana into shooting galleries...

for the mentally deranged.

A gun free zone =



I hope the Catholic churches allow armed security.

[TheWraith]

5. Nah, nobody shoots up the Catholics.

If you belong to a black or liberal church, well, that's another story.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Statistical]

16. No it doesn't.

Firearms aren't prohibited in a lot of locations in LA and they aren't shooting galleries.

You are aware the law doesn't REQUIRE churches to allow firearms it merely gives them the OPTION just like every other private property location in the state.

[spin]

17. I may be wrong, but I can't remember any instances ...

where a person with a license to carry concealed, shot up a church.

There was at least one incident where an individual with a carry permit stopped a shooter.

Jeanne Assam, a volunteer security guard at the New Life Church in Colorado Springs stopped Matthew J. Murray in the church foyer. Murray had previously attacked a missionary training facility in Arvada, Colorado, United States, killing two people and injuring two others. Before he was shot by Jeanne Assam, he killed two more people at the New Life Church and injured three.

Assam managed to hit him several times before he took his own life. He was armed with a Bushmaster XM15 .223 rifle, a Beretta .40 handgun, and a Springfield Armory 9mm pistol.

Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanne_assam

[PavePusher]

20. You seem to imply that LA....

has a higher percentage than usual of "mentally deranged".

If you can not produce evidence to support that, I would suggest you repudiate yourself post-haste.

[msongs]

6. thou shalt have no false idols before me - gotta leave those false idols home lol

[jody]

7. At what point does ignorance of laws affecting guns become a phobia, fear of guns? IMO the

Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops has gone beyond ignorance into the realm of stupidity.

[dtexdem]

12. The RC Church hierarchy is generally arrogant and often immoral, ...

but at least on this issue they have chosen the right path amid the stupidity and gunnuttery of Louisiana politics.

[Statistical]

15. Why should churchs be different than any other private property?

Why should they have special status not provided on a disco for example?

[jody]

25. Apparently you support the RC Church "We don’t think it is appropriate to have guns in churches".

What other unalienable/inalienable rights do you want to infringe upon by prohibiting them in churches?

[Rageneau]

8. Ha Ha! More anti-gun, America haters have been exposed!

All these years, these Catholic bishops have been pretending to be neutral clergymen. But their wild anti-gun rhetoric has finally exposed them as the traitors they are. I can't wait until school administrators come out against guns in schools. We'll have them then!

[Statistical]

13. Reading is fundamental.

Churchs are private property.
Private property owners can prohibit firearms.

Just like I can't bring a gun into your living room I can't bring a gun into a store, church, clinic, or disco if they want to prohibit firearms.

The law merely gives the CHOICE to churches on IF they want to allow firearms. Thus a church is now no different under the law than a store, clinic, or disco.

Why should churches be different? Churches aren't public property. By law they specifically CAN'T EVER be public property. No need for church to be treated different than any other private property.

That whole "separation of church and state" concept.

[dtexdem]

9. But what about the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch?

"First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then shalt thou count to three, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it."

I guess only Protestants will have HHGs of A.

;-)

[Hoopla Phil]

14. LMAO!!! Guess that one was inevitable. LOL

[PavePusher]

18. Python for the win... excellent!

Of course it's the only factual statement you've made here today.

[Glassunion]

23. I have soiled my armor... Again...

[Hoopla Phil]

19. You know, this whole "no carry in church" deal is largely ignored in Texas

The Baptist church I attend actually put together a little program to take care of it's own following a few high profile incidents at churches across the country. Anyone that has a CHL is welcomed to carry and all the Deacons were encouraged to get a CHL if they did not have one so that they could carry. We didn't make a big deal out of it but the Deacons did have a few meetings on their own on what to do and where to usher people in an incident did happen. And by the strict letter of the law it was not exactly against the law. Yes churches are places you are not supposed to carry but it is enforced under the trespass law in Texas. So if the preacher, knowing that you are carrying, does not ask you to leave there is no way to prosecute.

[X_Digger]

21. Since the last leg session (or the one before, can't recall offhand)..

.. the church must be posted 30.06 for the restriction to apply. Same as hospitals, nursing homes, and amusement parks.

[Hoopla Phil]

24. Oh cool. Wasn't aware of that change, thank you for the info.

[GreenStormCloud]

22. Meanwhile, it won't be a big deal for the Baptists and Pentecostals. N/T

[Euromutt]

26. Don't the bishops have more important things to worry about?

Like covering up for abusive priests? I mean, seriously, the Roman Catholic church currently has very little talking room regarding what is "appropriate in church."

[Callisto32]

27. Hmmm...hypothetical;

I'm Catholic (or not, doesn't really matter), going about my business in LA, and happen to be carrying. Something (doesn't matter what) happens, and I decide I need some spiritual guidance. I stop into the local Catholic church to talk to a priest.

I'm totally peaceful, intending no harm, and I would not be welcome.

How Christian of them...

[Statistical]

28. You could have local gang member on the corner hold it for you.

It is much better than bringing it into the church. :)

[old mark]

29. I usually carry my guns concealed - they would not know I was carrying unless they

wanded me or patted me down intimately.
If i were in a confined space with a lot of conservative christians-say in a Louisiana church, I'd CERTAINLY want a gun handy...


mark

[rrneck]

30. I heard that. nt

[krispos42]

31. Churches, mosques, temples, etc., are private buildings open to the public

Much the way a 7-Eleven is, or a bowling alley. If we generally agree that a open to the public business can't discriminate despite being privately owned, then I can't see making an exception for houses of worship.

[Endangered Specie]

32. Hold still little Billy, I need to 'frisk' you for guns...