The genius of concealed carry of handguns is that would-be murderers remain uncertain as to who is armed and who isn't. This is true for everyone interested in being as safe as they can be from future violence, because it comes to the realization of specific unalterable realities: you're on your own.
This week some Southern California Church Leaders came to that very same conclusion, and took up a position advocating not only a very discreet security presence of professionals, but also took the advice of their consultants and adopted the policy of advocating concealed carry of handguns among the congregation.
Realities are the core of solving the problem of church violence, and having the stomach to face those realities and to meet them. For too long, employers, churches, schools and others have said many different ways that they are sad to see things have to come to this, but this is a trap which serves not the people, but the killers. Fifteen Southern California church leaders refused to fall into that trap, and they sought out expert advice. It involves concealed carry of handguns in church, and they took it. Yes, concealed carry of handguns by the members who come to worship.
This is huge. Especially in California. 
The Southern California churches' consultant is Interfaith Intruder Response, a security firm for churches to respect their worship and sanctuary deeply while elaborating specific realities the church needs to accept in these times where threat assessment is a new function. Some of those realities involve not only understanding how families fall apart or how political sentiment can act out, but how to meet it with action at the most critical moments, and some of that action may involve lethal force of their own.
Other churches around the nation have their own story to tell on the subject of not only how they have become pro-active and prepared, as in Bring-Your-Gun-To-Church Day, but also real experience in stopping murderous assailants the moment the assault begins. It works. So does announcing it publicly. Very shrewd.
Some of the most helpful components of the one-day course from Interfaith Intruder Response is how the church is urged to accept facts the entire nation must come to accept, such as the moments between a violent attack and the arrival of police not as incapacitating, but as opportunity to stop them. Cases of mass murder of congregants taught to offer no resistance didn't cut it, and instructions on how to hide or even to urge children to toss books at an active shooter do about as much and are so very counterintuitive. Yes, some have taught the kids to throw books.
The answer is not to arm faculty who maybe present or not at the critical moment, or to have uniformed guards who are so easily recognized, but to do as these churches are now announcing: discreetly invite the armed citizen to join you.
Killers can kill in moments before a request for aid can even be processed, much less dispatched and on-scene. Not all killers use guns. many have a knife, and a knife does not run out of ammunition. The law in nearly all states is on the side of the target when it comes to life-threatening danger and the use of lethal force in reasonable response. Individuals may use lethal force when in reasonable apprehension of grave danger. Individuals may come to the aid of another. For these churches, perhaps the authority and law were the easy part. The hard part was more likely understanding where their religious authority would lie in even consulting on the subject of violence. Actually, many liberty purists have commented on Christian authority in the righteous use of force. Some of that will be heard in the Gun Rights Policy Conference this September. [Please go to KeepAndbearArms.com for further details on this very important subject.]
But violence is a political football more than a foe. This is because violence can be aggressive or it can resist. I differentiate that abuse and aggression are one side and a righteous response of resistance with force is the other side, and that it is simply not true that all violence is bad. I see that more and more are coming to that same conclusion.
Let me emphasize my support and praise for any church, or school, or workplace who elects to go concealed carry on its premises: It took a lot of courage and faith to make it policy that armed members with concealed carry permits may attend church armed.
It protects the innocent.
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Safer streets are possible only when the electorate takes control of both thugs and the system. Safe Streets In The Nationwide Concealed Carry Of Handguns (hardcover and paperback) is now available as an e-book at NationwideConcealedcarry.com
Comments
Its about time that common sense prevailed - way to go California!
This is a big step in the right direction. But, keep in mind that the number of concealed carry permit holders in Los Angeles is so incredibly low that I doubt there will be many (if any) congregation members who have one. If the church could use it's influence to convince Sheriff Baca to start issuing CCW permit's (which he has the authority to do), then some real good could come of this.
Amen to that.
Holy Cow! First they vote down massive tax increases and pass a bill that limits pay raises for politicians. Then advocating for concealed carry where people are most vulnerable!
Now they just need to get rid of their elected idiots Pelosi and Boxer.
There is hope for CA yet!
The only issue is to have all those who carry during a service to meet each other before hand. So that if something does happen and there is more than 1 good guy carrying, that they don't mistake one another as a bad guy. Don't want any 'friendly fire'
theres still some common sense left in Cali after all.
god bless the defenders of the righteous, moral and responsable citizens.
Let the would be killers face a spray of lead to teach him and his dooshbag ilk a lesson
David says:
“….the number of concealed carry permit holders in Los Angeles is so incredibly low that I doubt there will be many (if any) congregation members who have one. If the church could use it's influence to convince Sheriff Baca to start issuing CCW permit's, then some real good could come of this….”
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Your point is well taken. But your suggestion to convince Sheriff Baca to issue CCW permits has a Major flaw. Here are the sad FACTS re: CCW issuance in CA:
The vast majority of CA County Sheriffs, (Sheriff Baca in particular), refuse to issue CCW permits unless you’re a Politician, Celebrity or a Major contributor to the Sheriffs “election campaign”. Its rumored an “acceptable contribution” in LA, San Francisco, Orange and Alameda Counties is now up to $10,000. And CA$H is preferred. No surprise here. So unless you’re among the 3 above mentioned groups, forget about a CCW permit. Rather than abet such blatant corruption an
continued from previous post:............
Rather than abet such blatant corruption and hypocrisy, I suggest doing what Ive done for over 30 years. Just ignore the law and carry anyway.
Brothers and Sisters: This is, obviously, a "private sector" idea coming from a religeous orientation. As such, "Kalifornia" should get NO credit for this. This is from the "people" and not the "sheeple". The Latter-day-Saints (LDS) or "Mormons" have been directed from their leadership in Salt Lake City that concealed carry is not permitted in their places of worship; even in states that have will-issue CCW permit policies. Some letter writing might be in order as there are millions of Mormons out there!
There is myth out there that Sherrif Baca does not issue CCW. I have personally advised dozens of clients through the process and they have successfully obtained their CCW through Sherrif Baca. You have to be squared away, paperwork in order, and have a good cause - I know - because I've helped write and submit the good cause statement. No lies or mistatements are allowed. Just the facts of the case. We're successful 90% of the time. I want to put this issue to rest as Sherrif Baca has been unfairly criticised by those who do not know the facts.
Re: Richards claims on Sheriff Bacas CCW issuance record. Ive researched it with the NRA. He and the Sheriff of SF County have the lowest issuance rates in CA. Excluding Politicians, Celebes and Campaign contributors; less that 1 % of CCW applications are approved. And those that are, involve the most Extreme life threatening circumstances. So the claim of 90% approval for so called “well documented” applications is TOTAL B.S. unless you can prove someone tried to kill you. This eliminates 99.9 % of every one. So for all practical purposes, NO ONE gets approved in ANY Large Metropolitan CA county. ESPECIALLY LA. So don’t even begin to suggest that the practice of CCW issuance in CA isn’t based on Corruption & Hypocrisy. Always has been and always will be until CA becomes a SHALL ISSUE STATE. And this isn’t going to happen as long as its controlled by Socialists.
As to the religious side of the argument there is no stricture in the Ten Commandments against homicide. The commandment does not say, in the original, "Thou shalt not kill."
In the original it says "Thou shalt not murder." A horse of an entirely different color. Homicide is the taking of a human life and is listed as a duty in much of the Bible when an aggressor would kill and/or harm innocents. Murder is the unjustified homicide.
It is rare to find churches and congregations that recognize these facts and they are to be applauded. Hooray for the fifteen.
This also has implications concerning the White/Silva case in San Diego. Would Silva(even though she was impaired) have reconsiderd her ill-fated assault on Officer White if she knew the possibility existed that the "helpless motorist" she was attacking was armed? Methinks yes since she was very shocked that a firearm was in evidence(ohmygod that's illegal!) Just maybe(although she was impaired), she might have thought "I should be a responsible parent and motorist(since it is a privelege and not a right in California) and just let it go as most people do in this situation.All Californians should have the right to carry a firearm, guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. If States wish to cherry-pick this Amendment, then all Amendments are open to State interpretation, which is very scary and this may be my last email under California's version of the First Amendment(don't ask, don't tell, and don't complain!. just pay more taxes.)
Isn't it true that the owner of private property can authorize others to carry concealed weapons on his/her property? If so, is a CCW necessary in cases where the church has invited parishioners to bring their guns?
California is way behind the times --In the state of tennessee there is NO Conceled weapons permit--It is a CARRY permit ya don't need to hide it so the dirtbags know not to try their crap! even in church!!!
According to Matthew 5:39 (New International Version) there is one so-called Christian leader who disagrees with the notion that "concealed carry" is the proper response to violence:
39 "But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."
Jesus of Nazareth
Except it's next to impossible to get a CCW in the Southern California area if you live in a metropolitan area. Unless you're rich, famous, or politically connected.
Your Constitutional Right to protect yourself with a firearm is a privilege reserved for rich people.
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