Do you carry while attending Church?

[Tango7]

On 11/4/2025 at 11:13 PM, TomKoz said:

Self defense is not a sin.

Prove me wrong.

 

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Part Three Section Two: The Ten Commandments; Chapter Two You Shall Love Your Neighbor As Yourself; Article 5 The Fifth Commandment I. Respect For Human Life

 

Legitimate defense

2263 The legitimate defense of persons and societies is not an exception to the prohibition against the murder of the innocent that constitutes intentional killing. "The act of self-defense can have a double effect: the preservation of one's own life; and the killing of the aggressor.... the one is intended, the other is not."⁶⁵

 

2264 Love toward oneself remains a fundamental principle of morality. Therefore it is legitimate to insist on respect for one's own right to life. Someone who defends his life is not guilty of murder even if he is forced to deal his aggressor a lethal blow:

 

If a man in self-defense uses more than necessary violence, it will be unlawful: whereas if he repels force with moderation, his defense will be lawful.... Nor is it necessary for salvation that a man omit the act of moderate self-defense to avoid killing the other man, since one is bound to take more care of one's own life than of another's.

 

2265 Legitimate defense can be not only a right but a grave duty for someone responsible for another's life. Preserving the common good requires rendering the unjust aggressor unable to inflict harm. To this end, those holding legitimate authority have the right to repel by armed force aggressors against the civil community entrusted to their charge.⁶⁶

 

And for those who might still attempt to throw Scripture at you, you can reply with this, courtesy of the Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership:

 

But one of those ten is among the most commonly mis-translated verses of all of Hebrew Scripture -- and its mis-translation has resulted in deadly mis-interpretation.

Says the Torah (Exodus 20:13): Lo tirtzach!The Hebrew word used has a clear and unequivocal meaning: “Do not murder.”

Unfortunately, this verse is generally mistranslated as “Do not kill.” But the Hebrew could not be more clear, and there is a world of difference between killing and murder.

This is the Sixth Commandment. How many times have you heard “Thou shalt not kill”? This mistranslation is etched upon the hearts and minds of both Jewish and Christian children and adults with pernicious results. Can we possibly estimate the numbers of lives that have been lost by foolish pacifism rather than righteous defense in the face of evil?

 

 

 

Edited November 13, 2025 at 12:06 AM by Tango7

[StuckInIllinois]

Been a while since I created this posting. Found a church that I like quite a bit in Joliet. I drive from Aurora but that’s not an issue. Coming from a Catholic family background makes an Evangelical Church experience quite refreshing. Anyway….

 

No signage. No issues with carrying and I’ve been told by a friendly church member that’s in the know I’m not nearly the only one.  

 

Thankfully I found a church that matches my values. Both religiously and socially. 
 

 

 

[sctman800]

   I attend a small church in a small town here in Indiana where I now live.  Our Pastor carries and altho the subject has come up between us about carrying at church I do not see him having a problem with it.  He does know I carry and shoot in competition so he probably just assumes I carry in church.  We have talked about guns seeral times before or after services.   Jim.

[John Q Public]

On 11/3/2025 at 1:50 PM, SiliconSorcerer said:

I don't know what the TP stands for but most churches will only support police carrying while others that participate are not endorsed but not discouraged. 

I know a church that has 30 people on their list with electronic equipment and all. 

I "open" the church (it's always open) open means I clean the problems out and turn on the lights and there have been problems. 

I carry and wear a bullet proof vest or the appropriate weather bullet proof coat.

The priest asked me if I carry I said oh no does it show, he said no but good.  I said anything just be behind me. 

Am I alone, likely, 7:30 is generally the old people mass. :0 

 

 

So this is not the case whatsoever, as almost all replies from those church security are made up of members and not the police. 

[max503]

If they wouldn't let me I wouldn't go.

[SiliconSorcerer]

On 1/15/2026 at 1:09 PM, John Q Public said:

So this is not the case whatsoever, as almost all replies from those church security are made up of members and not the police. 

Well I certainly didn't say every church but I definitely attend a church where off duty police carry and are part of a larger group that have planned attendance. 

So I have no idea what "absolutely not the case" you are referring to. 

 

[John Q Public]

On 1/16/2026 at 10:59 AM, SiliconSorcerer said:

Well I certainly didn't say every church but I definitely attend a church where off duty police carry and are part of a larger group that have planned attendance. 

So I have no idea what "absolutely not the case" you are referring to. 

 

It's comes from you saying most churches, this is, "absolutely," not the case, as most replies here prove.  To put it more succinctly, most churches do not require, or hire LEOs to be involved in security of the church, thus your premise of, "most churches," is false. Does this clear things up, or shall we keep flogging the equine? 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 16, 2026 at 06:17 PM by John Q Public

[SiliconSorcerer]

On 1/16/2026 at 12:14 PM, John Q Public said:

It's comes from you saying most churches, this is, "absolutely," not the case, as most replies here prove.  To put it more succinctly, most churches do not require, or hire LEOs to be involved in security of the church, thus your premise of, "most churches," is false. Does this clear things up, or shall we keep flogging the equine? 

"most churches will only support police carrying while others that participate are not endorsed but not discouraged."

Nowhere did I state "most churches do require or hire LEOs to be involved in security of the church". 

I don't know any that PAY leo's it's all voluntary just like the other volunteers, but the church will not endorse because or legal responsibility for non-leo's. 

[John Q Public]

On 1/16/2026 at 12:25 PM, SiliconSorcerer said:

"most churches will only support police carrying while others that participate are not endorsed but not discouraged."

Nowhere did I state "most churches do require or hire LEOs to be involved in security of the church". 

I don't know any that PAY leo's it's all voluntary just like the other volunteers, but the church will not endorse because or legal responsibility for non-leo's. 

Your words: "Most churches will only support police carrying." The dead horse it is.... You are wrong... This statement if wrong, must churches, who allow firearms. do so with membership, LEO or not. In point of fact, I have trained 6-7 churches and their security, with firearms, and 95% were not LEOs and all were blessed. I give you the last word, since you can not fathom you were called on an error. Have at it, and feel righteous. 

 

 

 

Edited January 16, 2026 at 06:56 PM by John Q Public

[gunuser17]

I suspect that no catholic church, at least in the northern third of the state, will allow concealed carry given the statements by the relevant Cardinal and bishops.  United Methodist Church has an official position on no carry in its churches.  I don't believe there is any direct policy by the Southern Baptist churches.  I expect smaller protestant churches around the state, perhaps with no direct affiliation to a large group, especially where many of the members are hunters, have no official policy and just don't address it directly.  While I have no doubt that many churches have security teams, I expect they just ignore whether anyone else is carrying outside of the major cities in Illinois.  Cook County has over 40% of the state's population so I expect a significant portion of the churches in the state also.  I have yet to see one that permitted or promoted concealed carry but I have certainly not been in a large enough percentage of those churches to make any conclusions.

Edited January 16, 2026 at 09:12 PM by gunuser17

[John Q Public]

Doctrine is one thing, but I have had so many faith leaders come to me for training. There are many faith leaders who have a firearm at the pulpit. Official, has nothing to do with it. We need the sheepdogs, they protect us from the wolves. I'm an old sheepdog, we are the nightmare for those who would do harm to our flock...We only care about the flock.  Woe to those who endanger our sheep, for we will smite you. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 16, 2026 at 09:20 PM by John Q Public

[ragsbo]

On 1/16/2026 at 3:05 PM, gunuser17 said:

I suspect that no catholic church, at least in the northern third of the state, will allow concealed carry given the statements by the relevant Cardinal and bishops.  United Methodist Church has an official position on no carry in its churches.  I don't believe there is any direct policy by the Southern Baptist churches.  I expect smaller protestant churches around the state, perhaps with no direct affiliation to a large group, especially where many of the members are hunters, have no official policy and just don't address it directly.  While I have no doubt that many churches have security teams, I expect they just ignore whether anyone else is carrying outside of the major cities in Illinois.  Cook County has over 40% of the state's population so I expect a significant portion of the churches in the state also.  I have yet to see one that permitted or promoted concealed carry but I have certainly not been in a large enough percentage of those churches to make any conclusions.

I attend a Southern Baptist church and I can affirm that the SBA doe NOT say anything about concealed carry to churches. It is left up to the local church to determine what they do. We are a small country church way out in the country,  and I am the main security guy. We do not tell folks who attend what they can or cannot do as far as carrying concealed, unless there is a problem. So far we have had none. I do know of one church who has a gun safe mounted in the pulpit and only certain members know the combination. Our pastor does carry!  

[ragsbo]

On 1/16/2026 at 3:16 PM, John Q Public said:

Doctrine is one thing, but I have had so many faith leaders come to me for training. There are many faith leaders who have a firearm at the pulpit. Official, has nothing to do with it. We need the sheepdogs, they protect us from the wolves. I'm an old sheepdog, we are the nightmare for those who would do harm to our flock...We only care about the flock.  Woe to those who endanger our sheep, for we will smite you. 

 

 

 

 

 

Amen to that, I will go old testament on the fools in a heart beat! 

[SiliconSorcerer]

On 1/16/2026 at 12:56 PM, John Q Public said:

Your words: "Most churches will only support police carrying." The dead horse it is.... You are wrong... This statement if wrong, must churches, who allow firearms. do so with membership, LEO or not. In point of fact, I have trained 6-7 churches and their security, with firearms, and 95% were not LEOs and all were blessed. I give you the last word, since you can not fathom you were called on an error. Have at it, and feel righteous. 

 

Depends on what it is is.

[lilguy]

My Methodist church is posted. 
 

[John Q Public]

On 1/17/2026 at 7:06 AM, lilguy said:

My Methodist church is posted. 
 

Find another church and tell them why.

[jpearson]

United Methodist Churches are all posted as a matter of governing  policy ..

 

 

[Smallbore]

I grew up in the Methodist church. I could not attain any church that is posted.

[SiliconSorcerer]

On 1/17/2026 at 4:39 PM, jpearson said:

United Methodist Churches are all posted as a matter of governing  policy ..

 

 

I guess it's not only Mary getting screwed then... (I guess that's a bad Catholic joke) 

[Lou]

On 1/16/2026 at 12:25 PM, SiliconSorcerer said:

"most churches will only support police carrying while others that participate are not endorsed but not discouraged."

Nowhere did I state "most churches do require or hire LEOs to be involved in security of the church". 

I don't know any that PAY leo's it's all voluntary just like the other volunteers, but the church will not endorse because or legal responsibility for non-leo's. 

I'm in Missouri now and my wife's church pays for an officer from the local PD during the Sunday service.  They show up in a village squad in uniform and stand by the door before the service.  

They usually make a lap around the parking lot during the service too.  

 

She has had conversations with several of the men in church who she says always wear a suit jacket.  She is sure there is more than one that carries, whether it is officially sanctioned or not.  

[John Q Public]

She should know, for sure, and they should be coordinated. One person in uniform is an easy target. If you have one in uniform, it should be like an iceberg. There can be plausible deniability if needed, but you do need coms, tactics, and a solid plan. Otherwise, you have one cop of unknown skills. and others who have firearms with unknown skills, all working as individuals....   NOT GOOD.

Edited January 25, 2026 at 06:35 PM by John Q Public

[ragsbo]

The problem with a small church (we average 50 on Sunday morning) is that everyone knows everyone and have a very good idea who is packing. 

[SiliconSorcerer]

On 1/25/2026 at 4:50 PM, ragsbo said:

The problem with a small church (we average 50 on Sunday morning) is that everyone knows everyone and have a very good idea who is packing. 

This is a problem? 

[ragsbo]

On 1/26/2026 at 9:53 AM, SiliconSorcerer said:

This is a problem? 

IF the attacker knows the people and who is most likely carrying, they could target that person first to remove a threat before going on to shoot unarmed folks. 

[Quiet Observer]

On 1/26/2026 at 4:04 PM, ragsbo said:

IF the attacker knows the people and who is most likely carrying, they could target that person first to remove a threat before going on to shoot unarmed folks. 

The attacker might be an outsider. Even if it is a member, how many carry in the church? A single attacker might get 1 or 2 of the armed members. But it seems that if there are more, they may stop the attacker.

[Smallbore]

On 1/26/2026 at 10:08 PM, Quiet Observer said:

The attacker might be an outsider. Even if it is a member, how many carry in the church? A single attacker might get 1 or 2 of the armed members. But it seems that if there are more, they may stop the attacker.

 

[Smallbore]

I recognize the value of training and coordination. I also look at past real world church shootings. I do not see problems from a volunteer stepping up.

[Liberty4IL]

Surprised no one brought up an attached Primary or Secondary school or the use of school grounds for a church service.  Is it legally considered a church (not prohibited) or a school (prohibited)?  And IF all the doors are posted you can’t walk past a sign anyway. 

[Jeffrey]

Sometimes you just have to find the right door.

[John Q Public]

On 1/27/2026 at 7:58 AM, Smallbore said:

I recognize the value of training and coordination. I also look at past real world church shootings. I do not see problems from a volunteer stepping up.

Me too, where the one old guy waiting for the shot to clear and put one in the perps head from, what? 50-75 with one shot. Looked like iron sights with a 45, from a Vet. I say that because the video showed perfect form and no hesitation, and perfect composure... It was a deadly thing of beauty. 

 

 

 

Edited March 4, 2026 at 07:59 PM by John Q Public