Mississippi Governor Signs Law Allowing Armed Church Members

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Mississippi Governor Signs Law Allowing Armed Church Members

By NASSIM BENCHAABANE, ASSOCIATED PRESS
JACKSON, Miss. — Apr 15, 2016, 12:19 PM ET

Gov. Phil Bryant signed a bill Friday that allows some members of churches to undergo firearms training so they can provide armed security for their congregations.

The Church Protection Act specifies that those designated can carry guns into church buildings and gives them legal protections. It also allows people to carry holstered weapons without a permit.

Only two states — Georgia and North Dakota — prohibit all guns from places of worship, said Taylor Maxwell, a spokesman for Everytown for Gun Safety, which advocates for gun control laws. Eight states prohibit concealed carry permit holders from carrying guns into places of worship; other states leave it up to the place of worship.

The law also makes Mississippi the ninth state in the nation to allow people to carry holstered guns without a permit, said NRA spokeswoman Amy Hunter.

The bill was authored by Baptist pastor and state Rep. Andy Gipson, who says it's necessary in light of the massacre of nine parishioners during a Bible study last year in Charleston, South Carolina. He said the law gives small congregations an option to defend themselves against attack.

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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/mississippi-governor-signs-law-allowing-armed-church-members-38427172

[Gomez163]

1. Nothing sez Jeebus like packing heat

[gejohnston]

6. Where is the compelling State interest?

Separation of Church and State works both ways, this is actually a liberal law.

[guillaumeb]

2. Anything to frighten people and boost gun sales.

The paid NRA gun-whores are shameless. Sorry, I meant NRA staffers, not paid gun whores.

[JonathanRackham]

3. Shouldn't it be the churches decision anyway?

If a church wants to ban them fine. If they want to allow them fine. Why do they need to be legislated. People can then pick their church, mosque, temple accordingly.

[Eleanors38]

4. I don't think much will come from this. nt

[gejohnston]

5. not so much a second amendment issue

as it is a Church/State issue. Jefferson's wall of separation works both ways. Since I support that separation as much as I do the 2A, I see this as a good thing. Ironic that a Republicans are acting, well, liberal for a change. That's a good thing, why knock it?.

other states leave it up to the place of worship.

Which is how it should be in every state.

[ileus]

7. considering the hostility toward folks of all faiths this is a no brainer.

[beergood]

8. too funny

Mississippi passed this law https://action.aclu.org/secure/MS-veto-hb-1523?emsrc=Nat_Appeal_AutologinEnabled&emissue=LGBTrights&emtype=petition&ms=eml_160401_LGBTrights_MS1523&__af=query_string_encrypted, because their holy book tells them to hate gays, but they completely ignore the parts about turning the other cheek. Jesus was a pacifist and encouraged his followers to be as well.

im not against church goers carrying, it just seems hypocritical.

[gejohnston]

9. Jesus wasn't a pacifist

the passage referred to nonviolent resistance to Roman occupation. The goal was to use Roman law against the Roman soldier.
That said, the governor simply reinforced the wall separating Church and State. It goes both ways. Churches are free to ban guns or allow them all they want. All the law says now is that it is up to the churches.