Church Carry that meets in a School

[gunjitsu]

We are starting a new church that will be meeting in a school and I wanted to know if I could carry while on the school grounds since we will be meeting there for religious reasons on a Sunday and not when school is in session. Or can I not carry there at all?

Thanks!

[Statkowski]

§ 912. Possession of weapon on school property.
(a) Definition.--Notwithstanding the definition of "weapon"
in section 907 (relating to possessing instruments of crime),
"weapon" for purposes of this section shall include but not be
limited to any knife, cutting instrument, cutting tool, nun-
chuck stick, firearm, shotgun, rifle and any other tool,
instrument or implement capable of inflicting serious bodily
injury.
(b) Offense defined.--A person commits a misdemeanor of the
first degree if he possesses a weapon in the buildings of, on
the grounds of, or in any conveyance providing transportation to
or from any elementary or secondary publicly-funded educational
institution, any elementary or secondary private school licensed
by the Department of Education or any elementary or secondary
parochial school.
(c) Defense.--It shall be a defense that the weapon is
possessed and used in conjunction with a lawful supervised
school activity or course or is possessed for other lawful
purpose.

The statute, as written, makes NO EXCEPTIONS for any day of the week (i.e., Sunday), nor whether or not school is in session.

That being said, there is a defense if one is carrying for a lawful purpose.

[hss.strat]

As far as I know there is not an exemption for days when school is out.

[knight0334]

School grounds is school grounds regardless to the day of the week or if school is in session or not.

Unless you have a fat wallet to take a conviction to the PA Supreme Court to win a positive definition to "other lawful purpose", I recommend that you stay off school grounds.

[louie]

School grounds is school grounds regardless to the day of the week or if school is in session or not.

Unless you have a fat wallet to take a conviction to the PA Supreme Court to win a positive definition to "other lawful purpose", I recommend that you stay off school grounds.

What if the school and church are on the same grounds?
(Separate buildings, but on the same common grounds.)

I know many folks who attend Sunday services in a Catholic church in Philly. The church (building) and school occupy the same Parish property, yet the school and church are separate buildings.

What say you?

[Manxdriver]

Um, am I the only guy who noticed the OP is in Delaware? I don't know if he is talking about De or Pa, or if there is a difference legally speaking in the laws.

[HiredGoon]

If the op is a resident of DE, as his location says, he should check DE law on the subject.

[Statkowski]

Well, the poorly-written statute refers to the grounds of the school (while the title to the section refers to school property, which is a whole other issue).

If the school is on the grounds of the church, then I suppose it's okay to carry in the church. But if the church is on the grounds of the school, then one is S.O.L.

[gunjitsu]

Thanks for the answers. I live in DE and we are starting the church in PA. I have a license to carry in DE and PA.

[Manxdriver]

Thanks for the answers. I live in DE and we are starting the church in PA. I have a license to carry in DE and PA.

Good to find out that before sending you to the wrong answers. You're in the right place. Good luck!