Got made at church today!

[jimlongley]

We frequently have ugs at church and I have successfully, until today, avoided getting made.

Today one of the ladies at church was a part of a three way conversation and casually reached over and started to put her arm around me, and I had no chance to fend the arm off. The look on her face was priceless, but I wish she had been a little more circumspect in changing the subject to her sudden find.

She was not upset, that I could see, and I was able to point out that the recent shooting spree in the CO church was ended by an armed citizen, an armed FEMALE citizen, but the conversation soon involved many people.

It will be interesting to see if any repercussions transpire.

[Dragonfighter]

It will be interesting to see if any repercussions transpire.

It will depend on if the eldership, or whatever form the leadership takes, fears God more than man. Who they assign ownership to and whether or not they hold the 501(c)3 exemption as a more sacred edict than Scripture. Oh yeah, wisdom or the lack of will play a part as well.

I have been in similar situations wherein no one was "made" but the presence of CHLs in the congregation was well known. One eldership discussed but opted to ignore it...some of them carried. One time we had an assistant preacher write a "creed" of sorts including a dress code and made mention of "fanny packs"...we left (there were other issues as well). Where we attend now ODO from the city are there for traffic control, unarmed security is patrolling and watching. I still carry though and have not seen nor heard any directive to the contrary.

One time my MIL hugged me at church and later complained to my wife I was carrying. What it was was a brace I was wearing after cracking a couple of ribs at a fire.

[troglodyte]

Question. What is 501(c)3 and how does it impact Church Carry?

[Dragonfighter]

501(c)3 is the section, chapter and paragraph of the tax code that establishes churches and other organizations that exist for "the good of the state" as tax exempt. Most but not all churches incorporate under this exemption. The problem arises when the "sate" defines whether that organization is in compliance. So you often have an environment where the doctrine of a church is watered down for fear of losing the exemption and or curtails any message from the pulpit that may lean toward the political or hard lined. BTW political activism is one of the defined violations. If a church is found in violation, they can be shut down, held liable for back taxes for however long they were in violation and the board members of the "corporation" can be charged in tax court.

There are several churches that have been hit, threatened or shut down because they openly validated armed self defense, congregational activity in the political process or cut and dried doctrine on right and wrong, construed as "hate speech". The direct impact of 501(c)3 on CHL in church is non-existent but the attitude of the leadership is often influenced to the point where the impact (I.E. prohibition) is very real.

[longtooth]

.

It will be interesting to see if any repercussions transpire.

Tell him to call me & Carlson1. We will tell him you are the good guys.

[jimlongley]

Further communication from the person who "patted me down" indicates that she will not make an issue of it.

I consider the person a good friend, it's just that she never knew and it came as rather a surprise.

[kauboy]

For those who may not know, since the question came up about the tax exemption stuff, it is perfectly legal for a CHL to carry into a place of worship if no 30.06 sign is present. Just don't advertise or act as any type of "security".