Arkansas Carry

Read the Arkansas Carry's Church Choice and think it is a step in the right direction.

However, what are you going to do about that Stranger who is visiting for the first time and does not wish to disclose he or she too, is legally armed. Concealed.

Instead of Church Admin (Pastor, Board, Deacons etc etc etc) deciding WHO, they should really decide if they want to signage the building for or against and possible even sections of the church itself inside for or against.

I know of several churches already who wont do it and others who already do it, but quietly and not regarding the Law as it is written now.

I argue that Conceal Carry in Church is already a Fact of Life in the State and the Law must be amended to reflect our Choice as Citizens to exercise a Right which the Constitution has provided to us.

I point to the evidence in the crime against church property and anyone inside. We are in difficult times and Criminals see Church as a shooting gallery of sheep ready to hand over the Tithe Plate and everything else for the asking.

No. That must not happen. Criminals don't have the Law, they disregard it.

Regarding someone who doesn't want to disclose they are carrying and do anyway... I'm sure that happens all the time now and would continue with our without any change to the law. It is the responsibility of any CHCL carrier to know the laws and place he/she can or cannot carry.

Ideally we'd like to see a repeal of the entire language regarding churches and treat them as any other private property but that's not going to happen anytime soon in AR. Last session the issue of posting signs became a HUGE issue won't fly anytime soon in our Legislature.... so we'll take baby steps.

Hopefully more narrowly tailored language like this would assist rural and suburban churches who cannot afford and/or don't want to pay for security to arm designated members for their own protection in the unfortunate event they should need it.

States like Arkansas, Louisiana, and others that accord special status to churches, are eventually going to see such bans struck down as unconstitutional. They bans clearly interfere with the free exercise of property rights, for religious reasons.

Regarding Funds within a Church for Security, I doubt that most Churches have a need to PAY for security. Especially when Worshipers happen to provide Security by mere presence during a Service.

What will be welcome is a Open and clean change in the Law that effectively scraps this Restriction by allowing those Churches so inclined to carry.

That way the State will not have to tell the CHL Concealed Carry Permit Holder (Whew...) not to carry in Church. If this is part of the Country where "Churches" are special, I point out that I have traveled, lived in other/all parts of the USA and Churches are not "Special" other than Separation of Church and State and also for Tax Purposes.

Remember back in the Nation's History, Churches commonly had Weapons ready at a moment's notice against banditry, Indians and wildlife. It was also rather common for the Men to engage in Target Shoot/Marksmanship after the Services were concluded.

I do realize that we live in a different time here in 2012 and in some ways it's better and in others not so good. And it is prudent to prepare and train/communicate before anything bad happens. Society has been unraveled or under great strain. I see a number of places around where I live several times a week; giving hundreds of People bags of food.

Sometimes it might be a hot day and a source of trouble or attraction for those so inclined to be a Wolf.

People want Church to be a intangible place of Love, Fellowship and Worship. And this change in the State Law will not alter that environment.

As a afterthought, Sometimes I wonder if I am borderline nuts because on one hand I am trying to "argue" for something in the Public Opinion that is a total opposite of what, I think also is a place where sometimes People are hurt and sometimes killed.

Anything that strengthens the Institution from wherever Religion or Creed they may follow against Wolves is good.