Gun-loving pastor to his flock: Piece be with you

[stevie_d_64]

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A Kentucky pastor is inviting his flock to bring guns to church to celebrate the Fourth of July and the Second Amendment.

New Bethel Church is welcoming "responsible handgun owners" to wear their firearms inside the church June 27, a Saturday. An ad says there will be a handgun raffle, patriotic music and information on gun safety.

"We're just going to celebrate the upcoming theme of the birth of our nation," said pastor Ken Pagano. "And we're not ashamed to say that there was a strong belief in God and firearms — without that this country wouldn't be here."

The guns must be unloaded and private security will check visitors at the door, Pagano said.

He said recent church shootings, including the killing Sunday of a late-term abortion provider in Kansas, which he condemned, highlight the need to promote safe gun ownership. The New Bethel Church event was planned months before Dr. George Tiller was shot to death in a Wichita church.

Kentucky allows residents to openly carry guns in public with some restrictions. Gun owners carrying concealed weapons must have state-issued permits and can't take them to schools, jails or bars, among other exceptions.

Pagano's Protestant church, which attracts up to 150 people to Sunday services, is a member of the Assemblies of God. The former Marine and handgun instructor said he expected some backlash, but has heard only a "little bit" of criticism of the gun event.

John Phillips, an Arkansas pastor who was shot twice while leading a service at his former church in 1986, said a house of worship is no place for firearms.

"A church is designated as a safe haven, it's a place of worship," said Phillips, who was shot by a church member's relative for an unknown reason and still has a bullet lodged in his spine. "It is unconscionable to me to think that a church would be a place that you would even want to bring a weapon."

Phillips spoke out against a bill before the Arkansas General Assembly that would have permitted the carrying of guns in that state's churches. The bill failed in February.

Pagano, 50, said some members of his church were concerned that President Obama's administration could restrict gun ownership, and they supported the plan for the event when Pagano asked their opinion.

Marian McClure Taylor, executive director of the Kentucky Council of Churches, an umbrella organization for 11 Christian denominations in Kentucky, said Christian churches are promoters of peace, but "most allow for arms to be taken up under certain conditions."

Taylor said Pagano assured her the event would focus on promoting responsible gun ownership and any proceeds would go to charity.

"Those two commitments are consistent with the high value the Assemblies of God churches place on human life," she said in an e-mail message.

Pagano is encouraging church members to bring a canned good and a friend to the event. He said guns must be unloaded for insurance purposes and safety reasons.

He said the point was not to mix worship with guns, though he may reference some passages from the Bible.

"Firearms can be evil and they can be useful," he said. "We're just trying to promote responsible gun ownership and gun safety."

[longtooth]

The guns must be unloaded and private security will check visitors at the door, Pagano said.

This makes the whole thing a farse. An empty holster will do as good.

[TheArmedFarmer]

This makes the whole thing a farse. An empty holster will do as good.

Yep. I'd be staying home that Sunday if that was my church.

[74novaman]

The guns must be unloaded and private security will check visitors at the door, Pagano said.

This makes the whole thing a farse. An empty holster will do as good.

Too bad, up until that point I was thinking about making a road trip to attend.

[apostate]

This makes the whole thing a farce. An empty holster will do as good.

A photograph would be even better.

Yep. I'd be staying home that Sunday if that was my church.

Amen. I'm always nervous around "unloaded" firearms.

[Oldgringo]

The Rev is well intentioned if somewhat misguided. I hope all goes well for him and his disarmed flock.

[mikeintexas]

This makes the whole thing a farce. An empty holster will do as good.

A photograph would be even better.

Emailing a picture would be quicker and equally effective. Would the gun have to be unloaded in the picture?

[Pete92FS]

Kind of misses the point don't you think? I wonder how many of his flock with CHL's carry anyway on Sunday's(depending on Kentucky law)?

[surprise_i'm_armed]

Hey, maybe it's not the best that the churchgoers' weapons must
be unloaded, but I still think this preacher is more gun-friendly than
most other preachers are.

The news particle left out an important fact:
What brand and caliber of handgun is the raffle prize?

I'm sure that some forum members would have a softer heart
towards this preacher if the raffle prize is the same as their
preferred carry piece. LOL.

[Liberty]

The guns must be unloaded and private security will check visitors at the door, Pagano said.

This makes the whole thing a farse. An empty holster will do as good.

It is a farce, but I think they are trying to make a positive statement, and that is a good thing even if they aren't carrying far enough. I think its likely open carry is is not legal in churches in Kentucky. So maybe unloading them makes it legal.
I look at things like this the same way I look at CHL. I also believe every adult should be able openly or concealed without any license or permits. The CHL law was a step in the right direction. I can't condemn a law that that gave us more rights, even if I believe we should get rid of the CHL requirement.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

Additional information from an article in the 6/26/09
Dallas Morning Snooze:

The raffle ticket for the handgun is only $1 each. Still no
specifics on what kind or caliber.

"Sheriff's deputies will be at the doors to check that openly
carried firearms are unloaded, but they will not check for
concealed weapons."

As a result of this event, the church's insurance company cancelled
the policy for the Saturday night, 6/27, event, and will permanently
cancel the church's coverage at the end of the year.

As Sammy Davis used to say: "Ouch, babe."

There is an accompanying photo of Reverend Pagano sitting in his
office holding a black semi-auto with the slide back, but the photo is
not clear enough to determine the brand.

[bdickens]

What is the churches insurance company? It might be a good piece of activism to cancel your policy with them if you have the same company and tell them why you are doing so.

[carlson1]

I have had several insurances through the years until I finally got Church Mutural. None of them has ever limited us, but of course it would do them no goo.d