Legal Eagles: Church w/ a Pre-School

[gnbrotz]

I'll send you PM.

Okay, the church we're going to try tomorrow isn't listed on the DoE site, so that one should be good to go...

Please note that the wording of the statute used the word "OR" before mentioning parochial schools, which means they are covered by the statute even if they are not licensed by the DoE.

§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. (Added by L.1980, Act 167(1), eff. 12/15/80.)

[AJChenMPH]

Good catch, thanks -- I didn't pick up on that.

Turns out the church we went to today doesn't have a pre-school (nor is licensed by DoE, as I had previously noted), so shouldn't be an issue there...

[Siobhra]

Another exception is "With permission". Talk to the pastor and tell him you and your family were thinking about joining his church but you can not enter the church property because you carry a gun for self protection.

If he/she has a problem with it you most likely don't want any part of that church anyway. If they permit it then your covered.

[gnbrotz]

Another exception is "With permission". Talk to the pastor and tell him you and your family were thinking about joining his church but you can not enter the church property because you carry a gun for self protection.

If he/she has a problem with it you most likely don't want any part of that church anyway. If they permit it then your covered.

Permission from the pastor/priest/rabbi/elders, etc. does not override state law if there is a school on the premises.