Been feeling a little funny carrying in church...

[sjp2452]

Especially today. I was the stand-in for the music leader in the 2nd service this AM--prolly 350 people (or so) there, and I'm up front...with my service XD40 in a tucked (3 o'clock) CTAC, all covered with a sport coat and my 12-string guitar. Most of the time I don't think about the fact that its there, but occasionally I have the thought, "why on earth am I carrying a gun while leading worship?"

Then this evening while cruising the news I was reminded why somebody should be, even if its me...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,186110,00.html

Man Kills Woman, Wounds Child in Church; Later Kills Self
Sunday, February 26, 2006

DETROIT — A man opened fire with a shotgun during a church service Sunday, killing a woman and wounding a child before shooting another man outside and killing himself a few hours later, police said.

Second Deputy Police Chief James Tate said three people were shot, one fatally, at Zion Hope Missionary Baptist Church about 11 a.m EST.

"Church had begun, and shots rang out," Tate said.

About 5 1/2 hours later, Tate said officers spotted the suspect, who was identified as 24-year-old Kevin Lorenzo Collins, walking about a mile south of the church and saw him run behind a home.

"An officer then heard a loud boom," Tate said.

Collins died of what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Tate said.

The 9-year-old child was hit in the hand by a buckshot pellet, Tate said. The third victim, a man in his 50s, was in critical condition after being shot after he tried to protect his wife from a carjacking attempt by the gunman.

Ann Armstrong, 30, of Detroit, said she was in the church at the time.

"I seen him come in through the balcony door, and he pulled the gun from under his coat," Armstrong said. "He just started shooting her, then he shot at the pulpit."

A bullet hit a musical instrument, but no one at the pulpit was hit, she said.

Many of the hundreds of people in the church screamed as they ducked under the pews for protection, Armstrong said. After the gunman left, church members embraced each other before continuing to pray as police started coming in, she said.

"It was a lot of crying, a lot of hugging and a lot of praying," she said.

Church members then continued the service, Tate said.

"They didn't let this incident stop the reason why they came to church," he said. "They came to worship."

Police didn't know the relationship of the child and the woman who was killed, but say the two knew each other and were sitting near each other.

Church members helped police identify a suspect, Tate said.

The shooting was the result of a domestic dispute, Tate said, but he did not elaborate.

"This is not only happening at Zion Hope," said Rev. Curtis Grant, church pastor. "It's happening all around the city and it shouldn't have to happen in a particular church for us to be alarmed by what's going on."

In the last two weeks, for example, shootings have claimed the lives of two children in the city.

On Feb. 15, an 8-year-old boy was killed in his home by a stray bullet that was fired during a dispute between two groups of men outside. And last week, a 12-year-old boy was shot to death while walking on the street.

Grant asked people to pray for those involved in the church shooting.

"The sanctity of our sanctuary has been disturbed," Grant said. "We're just trying to get the families and children through this tragedy."

[sturmruger]

You protecting yourself and the congregation is a wise thing to do. Men of God owe it to their family and their friends to be protectors.

Their was recently a thread about this over on THR

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=182451




Just watch out for those church people that like to hug people a lot.

[Son of Norway]

If carrying was OK here, I'd do it every freakin' place I go. But alas, the local constable feels that all I need for protection is a cell phone...

[madbanton]

i used to carry when i worked at a church where iwas a youth pastor (not because of them though). we had a large homeless population around the property and a night i felt a little uneasy. But now i work in a school so thats a no-go.

[sjp2452]

Originally Posted by sturmruger

You protecting yourself and the congregation is a wise thing to do. Men of God owe it to their family and their friends to be protectors.

Their was recently a thread about this over on THR

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=182451

Just watch out for those church people that like to hug people a lot.

Thanks for the link--very informative. Haven't run into many huggers here...that would certainly affect some things!

[Kauzi XD45]

Just goes to show that God reveals himself in many strange ways! You ask why you should carry in church and he showed you!

[madbanton]

that would be pretty insensitive to say, but God does use evil mens actions for His good, and possibly the protection of His children

[Apdl]

that only place that you might be safe is in you own home

[packing_in_la]

Did you leave your spare tire at home because you knew you would be among friends that could possibly help you?

How many people do you trust with your car? Probably not too many.

It's funny how most people trust everyone else for their personal security, but trust almost no-one with their car.

[Kauzi XD45]

Originally Posted by fastshot

lol are saying god caused this wacko to kill a bunch of church goers just to show your ass you should pack in church

No i was just saying that when you question your actions, or fate or God or whatever you believe, and your actions were for a good cause, generally something pops up to prove to you whether or not you are on the right track. In this case, he questioned carrying in church, and then found proof that he was right and justified in doing so....what if that had been his church, or yours, maybe the scumbag dies and the lady lives. Sometimes i feel self contious carrying, i dont have my CCW permit yet, but colorado is an open carry state, so i always have a pistol with me. About the time i think "damn im just being paranoid" i read or see or hear on the news someone died in a situation that maybe if they had been carying they would have survived.