Governor Bobby Jindal Signs Guns in Church Bill

[stevie_d_64]

http://www.thestatecolumn.com/blog/2010 ... urch-bill/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has signed a law that will allow churchgoers to carry guns into house of worship.

The controversial bill was signed into law on June 20, a few days after the governor’s office received it.

The bill will allow persons qualified to carry concealed weapons to bring them to churches, mosques, synagogues or other houses of worship.

Pastors, or other heads of the religious institution, are required to announce the presence of such weapons, either verbally or in weekly newsletters and bulletins.

Supporters argued that the bill will help those living in dangerous neighborhoods attend places of worship. Opponents of the measure said churches, synagogues and mosques should remain free of firearms.

The law is expected to go into effect on August 15.

Whittling away at those gun-free zones makes it safer for everyone...

[Oldgringo]

If we have any chance at all of outing Obama and his minions in 2012, the Repubs absolutely must come forward with a believable platform for all of the people and real and viable candidates that all of the people can relate to.

Bobby Jindal is getting a lot of good face time from this oil spill disaster and he seems real...so far.

[ELB]

This is progess, but not as much as you might think. It does not permit CHL holders in general to carry at church -- only CHL holders who have been authorized by the church and specially trained.

The text:
http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/s ... did=722965" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ENROLLED

8 * * *
9 N. No concealed handgun may be carried into and no concealed handgun
10 permit issued pursuant to this Section shall authorize or entitle a permittee to carry
11 a concealed handgun in any of the following:

12 * * *

13 (8) Any church, synagogue, mosque, or other similar place of worship,
14 eligible for qualification as a tax-exempt organization under 26 U.S.C. 501, except
15 as provided for in Subsection U of this Section.

16 * * *

17 U.(1) The entity which owns the business or has authority over the
18 administration of a church, synagogue, or mosque shall have the authority to
19 authorize any person issued a valid concealed handgun permit as authorized by the
20 provisions of this Section to carry a concealed handgun in the church, synagogue, or
21 mosque.

22 (2) The provisions of this Subsection shall not be construed to limit or
23 prohibit any church, synagogue, or mosque from employing armed security guards
24 who are either certified law enforcement officers or who are authorized to carry
25 concealed handguns pursuant to the provisions of this Section.

26 (3) If the church, synagogue, or mosque authorizes the carrying of concealed
27 handguns as authorized by the provisions of this Subsection, the pastor, priest,
28 minister, or other authority of the church, synagogue, or mosque shall inform the
29 congregation of the authorization.

1 (4) The provisions of this Section shall not be construed to authorize the
2 carrying of a concealed handgun in a church, synagogue, or mosque located on the
3 property of any school or school property, which would otherwise be prohibited by
4 the provisions of R.S. 14:95.2.

5 (5) Any church, synagogue, or mosque authorizing the carrying of concealed
6 handguns pursuant to the provisions of this Subsection shall require an additional
7 eight hour tactical training for those persons wishing to carry concealed handguns
8 in the church, synagogue, or mosque. The training shall be conducted annually.

[A-R]

Best argument I've heard against banning CHLs at church is what authority does the government have to tell people what they will and won't bring inside their own sanctuary. Corollary to that is the legal premise of separation of church and state - which specifically prohibits the state from interfering in matters of religion. Texas finally got this right with regards to churches, but this Louisiana change still seems overly regulated.

So how in the world does Louisiana (and other states) get away with regulating whether someone can carry inside a church? And why hasn't someone sued to overturn this encroachment on freedom of religion grounds?

And before you say "but the state regulates guns in bars" ... remember that bars are specificaly licensed and heavily regulated by the state to be allowed to serve liquor, giving the state more leeway (educated guess - IANAL)

[Oldgringo]

austinrealtor asks:

So how in the world does Louisiana (and other states) get away with regulating whether someone can carry inside a church?

Perhaps, it's a "don't ask, don't tell thing" because "concealed is concealed"?

Have you forgotten that your rabbi/iman/preacher/deacons/council/whatever can issue an off limits to CC in their house of worship in Texas?

It's the people's choice where and how they choose to worship. I don't have a dog in anybody else's religious hunt. We have enough people minding other folk's business without any help from the Oldgringo.

[ELB]

Question: "So how in the world does Louisiana (and other states) get away with regulating {whatever...} And why hasn't someone sued to overturn this encroachment on freedom of religion grounds?"

Answer:
"Any church, synagogue, mosque, or other similar place of worship, eligible for qualification as a tax-exempt organization under 26 U.S.C. 501..."

I know the tax exemption is federal level, and the law is state level, but it still illustrates the principle, which has been long established -- the US and state governments can and do regulate the conduct of, and in, churches. And churches are largely support this. The only argument is about what, exactly, gets regulated.

I think it is stupid to ban CHL in churches, but I am happy with having the state regulate, say, murder, or assault, or sexual molestation, or embezzlement, or theft of the collection plate, or ...

[A-R]

austinrealtor asks:

So how in the world does Louisiana (and other states) get away with regulating whether someone can carry inside a church?

Perhaps, it's a "don't ask, don't tell thing" because "concealed is concealed"?

Have you forgotten that your rabbi/iman/preacher/deacons/council/whatever can issue an off limits to CC in their house of worship in Texas?

It's the people's choice where and how they choose to worship. I don't have a dog in anybody else's religious hunt. We have enough people minding other folk's business without any help from the Oldgringo.

Oldgringo, I think you may have misunderstood my meaning. A preacher etc saying "no guns" is fine (I don't personally agree with, but agree with the preacher's right to make that call in his own church). My problem is with states that say "no guns in churches etc" as a matter of state law, thereby taking the choice of how to run the church away from the preacher or church board or whatever.

[Oldgringo]

austinrealtor asks:

So how in the world does Louisiana (and other states) get away with regulating whether someone can carry inside a church?

Perhaps, it's a "don't ask, don't tell thing" because "concealed is concealed"?

Have you forgotten that your rabbi/iman/preacher/deacons/council/whatever can issue an off limits to CC in their house of worship in Texas?

It's the people's choice where and how they choose to worship. I don't have a dog in anybody else's religious hunt. We have enough people minding other folk's business without any help from the Oldgringo.

Oldgringo, I think you may have misunderstood my meaning. A preacher etc saying "no guns" is fine (I don't personally agree with, but agree with the preacher's right to make that call in his own church). My problem is with states that say "no guns in churches etc" as a matter of state law, thereby taking the choice of how to run the church away from the preacher or church board or whatever.

Agreed. In the case of the preacher making the no CCW call in his church, he can then pass the plate around his house...if you get my drift.

[ClarkLZeuss]

WOW. One step forward, and two steps back.

26 (3) If the church, synagogue, or mosque authorizes the carrying of concealed
27 handguns as authorized by the provisions of this Subsection, the pastor, priest,
28 minister, or other authority of the church, synagogue, or mosque shall inform the
29 congregation of the authorization.

Preacher: "HEY EVERYBODY! This particular parishioner right here carries a CONCEALED weapon!"

1 (4) The provisions of this Section shall not be construed to authorize the
2 carrying of a concealed handgun in a church, synagogue, or mosque located on the
3 property of any school or school property, which would otherwise be prohibited by
4 the provisions of R.S. 14:95.2.

No argument here.

5 (5) Any church, synagogue, or mosque authorizing the carrying of concealed
6 handguns pursuant to the provisions of this Subsection shall require an additional
7 eight hour tactical training for those persons wishing to carry concealed handguns
8 in the church, synagogue, or mosque. The training shall be conducted annually.

And where is the requirement of tactical training for carrying in a mall? Movie theater? Crowded restaurant? All present equally terrifying tactical scenarios. Seriously, the people of Louisiana should stand up to this hogwash.