A House approved bill allowing a concealed handgun permit holder to bring a gun into church without informing the congregation heads to the Senate floor for final passage.
Lake Charles Senator Mark Abraham began the hearing by addressing one of most commonly cited concerns related to the bill.
“Any church who does not want to have concealed weapons can have a sign posted at their entry saying we do not allow firearms,” says Abraham.
The legislation still requires a concealed carrier to ask the pastor or other leader of the house of worship for permission to carry while on the premises.
Louisiana Shooting Association President Dan Zelenka says will make churches a safer place.
“Churches are generally place where carry is prohibited, and today they are generally a target, a soft target so to speak,” says Zelenka.
Churches can currently allow concealed carry, but the congregation must be informed who is carrying. Bill sponsor Representative Bryan Fontenot says that requirement made carriers a target.
Church Attorney Andrew Wilson spoke against the bill. He says the measure would call for anti-carry churches to post large “no gun signs”, ruining church atmospheres.
“This is not a Walgreens, this is not a Whole Foods, this is a church. Guns in church are not a good idea,” says Wilson. “They make people afraid, people go to churches for security, not to be afraid.
Wilson also cited scripture quoting Jesus as saying weapons should not be deployed to protect his followers.
Reverend John David Andrew, speaking on behalf of the Episcopal Dioceses of Louisiana, says this bill endangers the safety of students going to schools attached to no carry churches.
“These signs make our facilities, many with schools, soft targets in our communities, therefore this bill makes children soft targets,” says the Reverend.
The Senate Judiciary C reported the bill to the floor on a 4-1 vote.
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