Church

[Smartguns]

Anyone here know what the Pa laws are on carrying concealed to church with a LTCF? Bad people don't stop carrying just cause it's Sunday, neither should I!

[Penguini66]

There are no laws restricting carry in a church in PA.

Where you CAN and CANNOT carry in PA

[gander215]

There are no laws restricting carry in a church in PA.

Where you CAN and CANNOT carry in PA

What he said... yep SHTF can happen anywhere even in church. -BB

[jcabin]

Not long after 9/11 my grandmother was attending sunday mass at the same church on long island she'd been going to for the past 40 years.

This day was different. A man with a rifle walked in and started firing into the pews. I believe two were pronounced dead at the scene and a few others were wounded. My grandmother had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance because this completely shattered her world. I can't blame her, coming from where she came from, these types of things were never supposed to happen.

This is why I carry when I attend mass. It's because of innocent helpless old women, and young children, who can do nothing to defend themselves (aside from saving my own ass). They are at the mercy of their attacker. These people are my friends and my family.

[NY Refugee]

It truly is scary the types of places that wacko's (not just the armed type) are targeting. Churches and schools are high on this list as they most likely will be the least defended.

[Brown-Bear]

There may not be any laws prohibiting you from carrying in church, but keep in mind that churches are normally "Private" property. Usually owned by someone other than the community so pre-emption does not apply.

Dave W.

[Karl/PA]

Used to go to church with an agent orange affected guy that once said that he thought it would be great to roll a grenade down the aisle in church.

[Brown-Bear]

Used to go to church with an agent orange affected guy that once said that he thought it would be great to roll a grenade down the aisle in church.

Well, That certainly is ONE way to fill the collection plate....

[PennsyPlinker]

I conceal my pistol when I am at regular services, and OC for other events at church. The pastor has a LTCF, and has OC'd with me and on his own a couple of times. He does not carry to church, but he knows I do. Most of the people who are regulars know I do, including the elders and deacons. What did they do about it? They put me in charge of church security!

I'm working at it from two angles. On the one hand, I am encouraging the men of the church to buy guns, learn to shoot them, and then carry them. On the other hand, I am evangelizing my gun carrying brethren to come and hear the Good Book preached, and bring their guns with them.

Seriously though, the attitude is going to vary from church to church. You will find that in a lot of liberal churches, they will be against guns. Not all, but a lot. In some conservative churches with a pacifist tradition, such as Mennonites, they will be against guns. Conservative Baptists are usually well armed. And most churches that are Bible believing (except those pacifists) are going to be okay with people toting guns to church. Now for those of you reading this who wonder why I put Bible believing in that last sentence, there are all sorts of churches out there today that believe very little of what is in the Bible. It sort of makes me wonder why they are even there, but they are. Some of them are quite wealthy from a worldly point of view. But they don't believe a lick of the scriptures.

[gnbrotz]

I don't attend services regularly, but recently attended some special events (concealed on both occasions). Due to my local notoriety, it's pretty much useless to attempt to suggest I'm not armed (It's almost like I'm OC, even when I'm not ). While I have OC'd to (and in) the church during non-service times, on these occasions I concealed, because of the large number of folks from the community who were also present because of the special holiday services. After the Christmas program (last Sunday evening), I had a well-know member stop and look to my left, then to my right. He said, "I just wanted to see if you were carrying your gun tonight". I smiled and said, "I am." He said, "Well, okay then." and walked away.

A bit later (during some fellowship/refreshments), I noticed another gentleman having a 'discussion' with my brother-in-law. They kept looking in my direction, then my BIL whispered something to the other gentleman.

Today, my BIL was accompanying me for the day, and he said, "Which gun did you have with you Sunday night?" (he knows not to ask if I'm armed or not). I told him I had had my .45 with me, IWB on my strong side. He told me that when he noticed I had a shirt that didn't require tucking, he'd assumed as much, but the other guy just wasn't sure if I had a gun or not. My BIL simply said, "I know Greg, and I've been around him enough to know that he is carrying, and I know how and what he usually carries."

I haven't broached the subject directly with anyone at the church, but as I've said, it's no secret around here that I carry a firearm, and do it regularly. I've even had my parents' pastor ask me for some clarifications on the current laws, as he knew I'd have the answer. He got a flyer too.