Faith and Firearms: Concealed Carry in Arkansas Churches
By: Adam Rodriguez, KARK 4 News
Updated: January 18, 2013
Senator Bryan King knows that not everyone will agree with SB71, but he believes concealed carry is an issue every church should be able to decide for itself.
"It's not allowing everybody to be gunslingers in church," King said from the capitol Thursday. "It's allowing the church to decide how they want to handle security."
Compared to a lot of legislation, King's Church Protect Act is incredibly brief, barely two sentences, but he says it could offer a lot of peace of mind to pastors and parishioners in rural areas.
He argues it makes sense for churches to allow concealed carry, because most see their fair share of saints and sinners.
And what is a congregation to do if a gunman attacks?
"Some (churches) teach that their next defense is to throw hymnals if they have some type of situation," King said. "I think people are seeing in our communities that the answer, especially in Arkansas, is not more gun restrictions. It allows citizens more measures to protect themselves."
"It's not allowing everybody to be gunslingers in church," King said from the capitol Thursday. "It's allowing the church to decide how they want to handle security."
Compared to a lot of legislation, King's Church Protect Act is incredibly brief, barely two sentences, but he says it could offer a lot of peace of mind to pastors and parishioners in rural areas.
He argues it makes sense for churches to allow concealed carry, because most see their fair share of saints and sinners.
And what is a congregation to do if a gunman attacks?
"Some (churches) teach that their next defense is to throw hymnals if they have some type of situation," King said. "I think people are seeing in our communities that the answer, especially in Arkansas, is not more gun restrictions. It allows citizens more measures to protect themselves."
