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July 25, 2012
11th Circuit Upholds Georgia Ban on Guns in Church
Ruling comes as Christians debate gun control in wake of Dark Knight Rises massacre.
A federal appeals court has upheld Georgia’s ban on bringing guns into places of worship.
Baptist pastor Jonathan Wilkins and a gun-rights group had argued that church members should have the right to carry guns into worship services to protect the congregation.
But the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday that a Georgia law adopted in 2010 does not violate the Thomaston congregation’s First and Second Amendment rights.
Gun-rights advocates might want a weapon for self-defense, but that is a “personal preference, motivated by a secular purpose,” the court ruled.
Jerry Henry, executive director of GeorgiaCarry.org, said the minister and his organization are mulling an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“We think they’ve got it wrong again,’’ he said in an interview Tuesday.
“The church’s First Amendment right prevails over the state right to tell them what they can and cannot do,” Henry said.
The appeals court also rejected arguments about the constitutional amendment permitting U.S. citizens to bear arms.
“A place of worship’s right, rooted in the common law, to forbid possession of firearms on its property is entirely consistent with the Second Amendment,” the court said.
(RNS)
Comments
Is going to church really that hazardous where we need to being a gun along? I know there have been a few random shootings in the last few years but this is ridiculous. I guess the Sword of the Spirit is not enough these days.
Posted By: Basil | July 25, 2012 2:13 PM
An instrument of destruction carried in a place symbolizing rebirth;are we deaf to the Almight teachings?
Posted By: luca | July 26, 2012 7:32 AM
I wonder if the good pastor would extend the same right to bear arms in a worship centre to Mosques in the USAdeadur
Posted By: Larry | July 26, 2012 8:42 AM
This request by gun toting Baptist's redefines the meaning of "Love your enemies" and "turn the other cheek." How about "Blessed are those who are persecuted..." Makes me wonder what the Prince of Peace would think about this kind of Christianity.
Posted By: Preacher Man | July 26, 2012 8:46 AM
It isn't clear to me how the prohibition against guns in church is violative of anyone's First Amendment rights. You could make that case if the church's doctrine / theology mandated the carrying of weapons; otherwise, not. The Second Amendment case also does not hold water. There are many contexts in which one is required to relinquish firearms, e.g,, airports / airplanes, etc., etc. I guess the tacit rule here is that if someone smites you, don't turn the other cheek, shoot the other fella's cheek off. JRC
Posted By: James R. Cowles | July 26, 2012 2:18 PM
@Larry: I wonder if the good pastor would extend the same right to bear arms in a worship centre to Mosques
Well, if the carrying of weapons into churches were to be permitted, the "equal protection" clause of the 14th Amendment would mandate that carrying weapons into mosques would be permitted, also ... in fact, carrying weapons into any house of worship. Sauce for the goose ... etc. JRC
Posted By: James R. Cowles | July 26, 2012 2:20 PM
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