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Whose church allows open carry?

junglebob

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2006
Messages
361
Location
Southern Illinois, Illinois, USA
My pastor forwarded some emails to me from some pastors in our denomination about "open carry in church". One fellow from a church out east was asking about it. A pastor in Missouri said that a couple of men in his church open carry in church. I'm not sure if they asked if it was ok to do it or not, since Missouri law requires permission. Being from Illinois, even Southern Illinois this seems a little novel, but we've only had concealed carry licenses issued for a few months now. I know that the Missouri CC Law has been in effect for a while and open carry was OK many places before that. Now guns in church aren't new for my church, I've been transporting, "6 seconds to safety" and now carrying for a while. There are a couple of other "transporters", I'm the only one to have an Illinois FCCL (Firearm Conceal Carry License) that I know of.
 
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NG19

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2011
Messages
113
Location
Warrensburg, Missouri
I live in the KC area and know of several ccw holders who carry concealed as well as myself, but I never asked if I could carry openly. I'm sure my church would allow it but I would not be comfortable doing so while I am teaching Sunday school to about 150 kids from 1st - 5th grades. I do feel comfortable concealing however.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk
 

junglebob

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2006
Messages
361
Location
Southern Illinois, Illinois, USA
I'm guessing that open carry in a church in Missouri would be a lot more common in rural areas. Open carry is only allowed in rural areas in Illinois while hunting, fishing, or trapping. Not that common then except of course long guns for hunting. Could likely get you arrested if not hunting with a long gun. Technically you should be able to open carry in a church with permission. I expect trying it might cause police response to a "man with a gun" call.

There are probably over half dozen folks in my church that will be getting their Illinois CHL sometime. One thing standing in the way is the 16 hour course required. Several are doctors and can have a problem setting aside the time. Just the website set up by the Illinois State Police is a pain to navigate, and they only take applications online at this time.
 
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Richieg150

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2006
Messages
432
Location
Show Me State
A pastor in Missouri said that a couple of men in his church open carry in church. I'm not sure if they asked if it was ok to do it or not, since Missouri law requires permission.

I know several people who carry concealed while in church, with the pastors permission. Many people in church have a hard time believing that anyone would come into THEIR place of worship and start killing. Unfortunately that's exactly the kind of place one would go, or possible any school, hell bent on violence without much if any resistance. Many don't want to believe it could happen to THEM, but it could happen anywhere else. Open carrying a firearm would upset MANY in a church setting, especially the older folks.... many would say: firearms have no place in a church.... that would hold true if we lived in a perfect Biblical world, but we don't. So, while in church, get the pastors permission, conceal it, be vigilant and expect the worse but pray for the best, and be prepared.
 

NKCGunner

New member
Joined
Apr 16, 2014
Messages
2
Location
North Kansas City
Like many others I carry concealed, and see no need for open carry. Our pastor has made it clear that that are armed men, part of the security team, that are present during service. I haven't asked to be part of that team, but know several members.

I live in, and attend church in North Kansas City.
 

JEStucker

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2013
Messages
94
Location
Independence, Missouri, USA
We attended a small church in north central Missouri a few times when visiting family members, the pastor was a former military chaplain and was very plain spoken about his beliefs. He left an open statement to his congregation that firearms would always be welcome in his church because as a shepherd he had a biblical duty to see to the protection of his flock. He also made a statement that when he was at the pulpit there would always be three things there with him. "The Bible, a glass of water, and his .357, and if anyone had issue with that, then they were welcome to attend a different church."

It's been a couple of years since we went up to see them, as my family has since moved away from the area and it's a two and a half hour drive up there...
 
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