Church carry?

[Tactical_Texan_CHL]

Just wondering how many of you carry in church? I'm the only one I know of in our church who has my CHL. I don't carry in church. I would, but my wife was never quite keen on my carrying all the time anyway, and church is like her final strong hold. I recently found out that most of the men in our Sunday School class, and small group shoot and hunt regularly, so we've been going together alot. A few months ago, we were at the range, and I introduced a few of them to pistols. They had only shot rifles and shotguns before and were pretty much strictly bird hunters. When we got done shooting my pistols, one of them asked if we knew you could carry a gun in Texas. I started out by playing dumb and asking if anyone had a CHL. After awhile, I judged their responses and told them I had a CHL and I was actually carrying right then. After all, we were at OUR range and I could have been carrying openly if I wanted. There was quite a bit of interest and the usual questions of where and when do you carry? I gave them my usual answer of, "I prefer not to say when and where. But I don't carry in church if that's what you're asking." We also discussed the fact that it was a private matter, and shouldn't be discussed with anyone else. Yesterday, one of my friends asked me if I think I should start carrying in church due to the church shootings recently. He didn't ask in front of anyone, but he said he's more concerned about violence now, and is considering taking the class himself, and trying to talk his wife into it. Any good suggestions for church carry? I don't like tuckable holsters. I have enough in my shirt and pants without anything extra if you know what I mean. I'm thinking about an ankle holster for the P3AT, or maybe even getting a Glock 26 or 27. Like I don't have enough Glocks already Anyone wear an ankle holster with a dress sock pulled up over it?

[Kalrog]

Heck yeah I carry at church. And so do a few other people I know (some CHL some LEO). No 30.06 and not prohibited by statute = Kalrog with a gun.

[TDDude]

Carry in church? Of course. I have been since day 1.

What better place for a lunatic to do massive damage than a small room with hundreds or even thousands of people jammed together and not expecting anything.

[troglodyte]

I carry at church as do about a dozen others that I know of.

[LarryH]

As soon as my CHL arrives, and I acquire the appropriate holster/rig, I will be.

[ELB]

There have been some other threads on this forum about church carry, and I would guess there are quite a few forum members who carry in church, and I believe at least a couple of them are pastors of their churches. I just searched on "church chl carry" and got over 400 hits.

The idea of a church as a sanctuary is a nice, utopian ideal, but is certainly not fool-proof in practice. You (and your wife) may be interested to know that in earlier times of American history, men were REQUIRED to bring arms to church, and were fined if they didn't.

In even earlier times (1400s or 1500s, can't remember exactly), one of the fathers of the science of ballistics was nicknamed "Tartaglia," which means "stutterer" in Italian. He was called this because when outsiders invaded his city, he took refuge in a church, but one of the invaders came in anyway (on horseback I believe). Tartaglia was slashed in the face with a sword, leaving him with a speech impediment, thus the nickname. Maybe that's why he got so interested in cannons later on.

The divergence of church and gun is a modern contrivance, and I think that has more to do with the personal politics of the church leaders than it does with actual theology.

elb

[frreed]

I am one of those pastors who carries at church. I do not carry during Sunday morning worship, but will most any other time. Realistically, the vestments I wear would render any concealed weapon inaccessible and I do have some psychosis about packing while leading Sunday worship.


The church is in a "rough"neighborhood and it seems prudent to be able to defend myself or members of my church.

Oddly enough, I am a reserve Navy chaplain and cannot carry a weapon. I spent 7 months in Iraq and was unarmed because of the U.S. military policy regarding chaplains.

By the way, I carry a Bersa .380 concealed carry model in a tuckable IWB. I do keep it discreet.

[cbr600]

Any good suggestions for church carry?

Wear a sports coat. That will dramatically increase your concealment options.

[longtooth]

I too am one of the pastors that carry. I have no hesitation to carry on Sunday morning. No lunatic is going to get in the parking lot, load his pistol, stuff 5 more high cap mags in his pocket, & say to himself, Oh, self, this is Sunday morning. Go back home & behave.

We are a small congregation. Average 75 on a given sunday morning. 6 of those will be armed unless someone is really sick. Depending on shift work another may be there. Sunday night total will go to 55 & the same # armed.
Each knows their responsibilities if shooting starts.
We also have a "Threat Response Plan" for lesser problems.

Carry is welcome at our church & we can all get to them pretty easily.
Yes sir "Onward Christian Soldier" PTL and Pass the ammunition.

[anygunanywhere]

I pack at church.

When I lived in Kalifornia a crazed homeless guy interrupted Sunday Mass and started screaming incoherently. The ushers managed to escort him outside and there was no harm done, but it did make me think.

I will not be caught unprotected. I will change parishes if the one I attend ever posts a 30.06.

Anygun

[longtooth]

Any good suggestions for church carry?

Wear a sports coat. That will dramatically increase your concealment options.

Coat is excellent. Also make sure you have quality gear. A good gunbelt & quality holster will stay in place & remain tight to your body.

I am an old country preacher that is really the heardman from Tekoa. It has been said that I am quit animated & demonstrative while preaching & my regular carry on Sunday now is a Ruger SP101. No one ever sees it. In a high threat time such as Rita I have carried my 1911.

I do confess that our church is probably more reseptive than most to Staff, Deacons, & others who have leadership responsibilities, being armed.

That 101 at 3:00 & anyone that wants to hug the preacher only bumps an elbow. A little practice & it can be done. You would be welcome to come visit & see how we do it if you want to.
LT

[jimlongley]

I even carried as I got baptised.

[carlson1]

My Pastor carries while he is preaching

[longtooth]

I even carried as I got baptised.

You bet. They will clean & reoil.

I carry when I baptize. No sence in taking it off & that is what waders are for.

[longtooth]

My Pastor carries while he is preaching

Yes sir.
My Brother.