Thursday, May 13, 2010
Guns and God
Posted by Lauren LaBorde on Thu, May 13, 2010 at 11:32 PM
For anyone who's never been to a Catholic Mass, here's a small list of things that aren't allowed — or, at least things that are frowned upon and proven to elicit haughty glares from the pious: wearing shorts, pregnant teenagers, talking too loudly, known divorcées, ringing cell phones. And apparently, you're not supposed to eat an hour beforehand (like with swimming pools). So in this already tense, often fear-based atmosphere of worship, what would be a great addition? According to Rep. Henry Burns, R-Haughton, guns!
Burns' House Bill 68, which would allow guns in in churches, synagogues, mosques if the head of the religious body approves, was approved by the House in a 74-18 vote on Wednesday. If that sounds a little crazy and not what Jesus would do, take solace in knowing that it's something not necessarily prohibited by the Bible, according to bill backer Rep. Ernest Wooton (R-Belle Chasse):
"This bill is very permissive ... I want to see in the Bible where it says you can't bring a gun to church."
The bill would allow those with concealed carry permits to "bring (guns) to church as part of its security plan," says Burns, to protect congregants against a potential attack. These members "tapped for security duty" would be required to receive eight hours of technical training.
Perhaps what's most amazing about this proposed law is that it's responsible for what I believe to be the only logical, factual (in this case) nola.com comment ever posted:
Amen, technogeek1. Amen. (Via the Times-Picayune).
Speaking of...
-
Brett Anderson not to New York Times
The Times-Pic dining critic, who was a finalist for the open critic's spot at The New York Times, is passed over in favor of Times food editor Pete Wells.
- Nov 15, 2011
- More »
Comments (4)
Showing 1-4 of 4
So Wooten, the gun fetishist, gets someone else to file a bill, promoting his agenda...I wonder what the pope thinks of this? I guess the mantra "Thou Shalt Not Kill" is out the window - what a couple of hypocrites.
like
dislike
I don't see why carrying in churches should be a matter of state law anyway. Unless the church specifically disallows it, where's the offense? I also wouldn't speculate on what Jesus would do. The Bible doesn't frown on self-defense as a whole (although it does support turning the other cheek in the context of evangelization), and Christ was physically violent with the money-changers defiling the Temple (he even used a makeshift whip). In any event, I think society takes a step back when it restricts self-defense, not when it promotes it. But that's just me.
"I think society takes a step back when it restricts self-defense, not when it promotes it." Has it ever been an issue until now? It would probably never have come up if it weren't for this bill. Are people that paranoid they must constantly be armed? And in church no less?
