Current Event 2/26/09

Guns in Church Bill Dies in Arkansas



A bill that allowed handguns in church was rejected by the state Senate in Arkansas. This bill would have taken churches off of the list of places in Arkansas where people cannot carry handguns. Churches and bars are the only ones on that list.



The House approved the bill eariler this month, but the Senate Judiciary Committee stalled the bill on a voice vote Wednesday. The bill's sponsor Representative Beverly Pyle told the panal that she would be trying again with this proposal. She states, "This is not a gun question, but a question of religious freedom." Govenor Mike Beebe has said that he would sign the bill if it made it to his desk. Nancy Petty, the pastor of a church, said that churched should have the right to decide whether or not handguns should be allowed on their properties. "It's not the role of the state to preserve the sanctity of the church, and it's not the role of the state to impose religious judgment calls on churches," Petty said. However Debra Freeman, another pastor from Little Rock, said that it was not the nature of the church to have guns in it. She said that it would take churched from feeling safe and peaceful to fear and suspicion.

I think that having guns in church is completely wrong. Yes, it brings fourth a question of religious freedom, but what is religious about bringing a gun with you the church. Nothing. I go to church because I enjoy the singing and love praising God. Do I feel like I need a gun to protect me when I have the ultimate protecter on my side? nope. I believe that people should start having more faith in God and trust in him rather than really on guns and knifes. If people feel the need to be protected while attending church then what kind of society do we live in? Church is a place of peacefulness and safety not violence and fear.