Guns for Jesus: Kentucky church celebrates gun culture

June 28, 6:55 AMPortland Humanist ExaminerMicha J. Stone

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Gun-toting Kentucky Pastor Ken Pagano invited his flock to bring their guns to church. Approximately 200 people answered Pastor Pagano's call to celebrate American gun culture and the Second Amendment Saturday at New Bethel Church in Louisville, Kentucky. The gun-toting Pastor made the extraordinary request of his flock to bring their unloaded handguns, in holsters, to send a message.

During the 90-minute event, which was open to the public, Pagano said "We are wanting to send a message that there are legal, civil, intelligent and law-abiding citizens who also own guns. If it were not for a deep-seated belief in the right to bear arms, this country would not be here today," he told the crowd, drawing hearty applause and exclamations of "Amen!"

The "Open Carry Celebration" included a handgun raffle, patriotic music and screening of gun safety videos. Some gun owners carried old-fashioned six-shooters in leather holsters, while others packed modern police-style firearms. Kentucky allows residents to openly carry guns in public with some restrictions.

In Kentucky you don’t need a license or permit to buy or carry rifles or shotguns, and you don’t need a permit to buy a handgun, though you do need a permit to carry a handgun. And you can get a license to conceal your firearms, if you meet certain requirements (are 21, pass a course, etc.).

A coalition of religious groups and campaigners held a rival gun-free event at the same time on the other side of Louisville. "The idea of wearing guns to churches or any sacred space I think many people find deeply troubling," organiser Terry Taylor told AP.

Indeed, what an odd and ugly thing to encourage people to bring guns into a church. What a perversion of Christ's message - to celebrate such dark tools of death. The irony is rich, and both Pastor and congregation appear quite foolish, slightly crazy and potentially dangerous.