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I saw this one on GlockTalk and I knew Longtooth would NEVER read GlockTalk.

http://www.glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=988753" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"Church Gun Day Idea...need advice?

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I need a bit of advice and I want to bounce an idea off of you. Tell me what you think.
I have been a pastor of a church for the past ten years and want to do something “outside the box.” I am also a CCW instructor. Many of my folks have either received their permit by attending my classes and or participate when we have a church sponsored “Shooting Day” at the local range.

Kentucky is an open carry state. As a preacher and CCW instructor, I am a firm supporter of both 1st and 2nd Amendments. My idea is to have an Open Carry Church Day. I would likely do it on a Saturday afternoon or evening, the last Saturday in June so as to anticipate the 4th of July. I would promote US Freedoms. I would advertise and invite people who are of legal age and or are CCW holders to attend a rally/church service. But I want them to open carry their handgun to church. Guns would have to be in a secure holster. They would be visually examined at the door. I would invite the owners of our two local firing ranges to attend and speak briefly on either gun rights or the benefits of the shooting sports. I would want them to promote their respective ranges. One is outdoors the other indoor. I may even ask an assistant chief of police if he would like to speak. I would conclude with a brief message on gun rights as being the basis for all other constitution rights and a moral obligation that does not conflict with religious values…

If you lived in this area, what would you think and would you attend?

Any thoughts, pros and cons or other input would be appreciated. At the moment this is just an idea but my church council and other members are all for it... I don’t know if this has been done before or not…What are your thoughts?
__________________
Christian pacifism is an option not a requirement.

The Christian faith is in no way pacifistic."

See what you could do if we had 'Open Carry' in TX! 'Dinner on the grounds' followed by IDPA!
Regards, OE

Man I would go for sure. Well, that is, as long as didnt have to carry a, a, well carry a you know what.

longtooth wrote:Man I would go for sure. Well, that is, as long as didnt have to carry a, a, well carry a you know what.

I carry Tupperware to church frequently. However, mine only has food in it for the pot luck supper's since I'm a Methodist! LOL

Sounds like a good preacher. Growing up in a state that borders Kentucky, I always liked their views on firearms. I used to camp and fish frequently at Kentucky/Barkley Lakes and they were very open to hunting and shooting on park lands.

I carry open every week at my Church and I would like to have a special "Open Carry" day. We do get together and all go to the range every once in a while. Nothing like it.

Here's an idea I've been kicking around. Through a confluence of coincidences, I recently learned that our tiny little church out here in Kingsbury has nearly as many CHLs as non-CHLs, and there are plenty of shooters who aren't CHLs, too. We have a "Church Family Fun Day" one Sunday afternoon each month, and it is sometimes a chore to get something together that the majority of the congregation would like to participate in.

Well, a couple of weeks ago, I wondered out loud if we should have a 'church shoot day,' when we all get together for a day at the range. We'd do a kid's division (air guns & rimfire) and an adult division (pistols & shotguns [a member has a full skeet setup]). You'd have thought I was offering to pass out bags of cash! I've been flooded with messages from members asking when it's going to be. And people say Lutherans are boring!

This might not go over very well at St. Big City Church in downtown Metropolis, but out here in the sticks, we might have just hit on the social event that 'fires' up the locals!

I would imagine it would be ok to do what you want to do on private property, and in cases like this, with the permission from a private property owner...

Making it a special day is a neat idea...But what about next week when everyone gets together for Sunday services...The cat is out of the bag, so to speak...

stevie_d_64 wrote:I would imagine it would be ok to do what you want to do on private property, and in cases like this, with the permission from a private property owner...

Be careful. I'm not sure there is a "with permission" exemption in Texas.

gmckinl wrote:

stevie_d_64 wrote:I would imagine it would be ok to do what you want to do on private property, and in cases like this, with the permission from a private property owner...

Be careful. I'm not sure there is a "with permission" exemption in Texas.

If we're on a big enough piece of private property (sufficient acreage for the use of firearms), out in the unincorporated county, outside of any ETJs, and follow all the safety rules, we can do just about whatever we want, right? I'm not talking about carrying handguns either open or concealed, just a bunch of people getting together for some 'range time.'

Or am I way off base here?

If it's a gun oriented event, then open carry would be OK, much like open carrying at a gun range I would think, but I could be wrong.

This sounds more like a gun advocacy get together than a worship service. IMHO, it would distract from the main reason people attend services. I would likely avoid such a service because it may attract folks with questionable gun handling/safety skills who otherwise wouldn't carry and again, it would distract me from my meditations and prayer.

As a point of clarification, I always carry when I go to shul. I like knowing there are others there who are carrying too. I just don't want to see their stuff hanging out in the sanctuary/chapel.

Based on the opinions expressed by some that allowing others to OC on your property for a private gathering (BBQ) would be illegal so this sounds like it too would be illegal. I recall several threads in the past that discussed such issues. I also recall that even though a lot of gun store employees OC, the practice is illegl but is overlooked.

YMMV.

Anygunanywhere

anygunanywhere wrote:Based on the opinions expressed by some that allowing others to OC on your property for a private gathering (BBQ) would be illegal so this sounds like it too would be illegal. I recall several threads in the past that discussed such issues. I also recall that even though a lot of gun store employees OC, the practice is illegl but is overlooked.

YMMV.

Anygunanywhere

I had one guy explain to me that only one person per store could do the open-carry. Not sure if it is accurate or not.

anygunanywhere wrote:Based on the opinions expressed by some that allowing others to OC on your property for a private gathering (BBQ) would be illegal so this sounds like it too would be illegal. I recall several threads in the past that discussed such issues. I also recall that even though a lot of gun store employees OC, the practice is illegl but is overlooked.

YMMV.

Anygunanywhere

OC would be illegal at a BBQ-type gathering, but UCW does not apply to sporting activities on the immediate premises where the activity is committed. Per PC46.15(b)(3). So OC'ing at a gathering where folks are going to be shooting (ie. a home range or skeet range) would be perfectly legal, while the BBQ would not, IMHO, and IANAL.

ETA: Oh, you're talking about the OC day at the church for the rally. I thought you were talking about someone's idea for a church "shooting day." Yep, in Texas, the church OC rally would be illegal, unless the church had a range out back for everyone to go shoot on after the services!

barres wrote:

anygunanywhere wrote:Based on the opinions expressed by some that allowing others to OC on your property for a private gathering (BBQ) would be illegal so this sounds like it too would be illegal. I recall several threads in the past that discussed such issues. I also recall that even though a lot of gun store employees OC, the practice is illegl but is overlooked.

YMMV.

Anygunanywhere

OC would be illegal at a BBQ-type gathering, but UCW does not apply to sporting activities on the immediate premises where the activity is committed. Per PC46.15(b)(3). So OC'ing at a gathering where folks are going to be shooting (ie. a home range or skeet range) would be perfectly legal, while the BBQ would not, IMHO, and IANAL.

ETA: Oh, you're talking about the OC day at the church for the rally. I thought you were talking about someone's idea for a church "shooting day." Yep, in Texas, the church OC rally would be illegal, unless the church had a range out back for everyone to go shoot on after the services!

Correct.

The differences between the two and one being illegal and the other one not are truly...how do I say this..ummmm..(snaps fingers)...asinine.

Anygunanywhere

Looks like I unintentionally threw a monkey wrench into this discussion. My idea of a Sunday afternoon 'day at the range' apparently got mixed into the OC rally/church service idea.

I am truly sorry for any confusion I have caused!