Bill to allow guns in church dies in state Senate

[evolution8]

Bill to allow guns in church dies in state Senate
Associated Press - 6/12/2010 4:25:00
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Defa ... id=1043080


BATON ROUGE, LA - A bill that would have allowed concealed weapons to be carried inside Louisiana churches shot down in the state Senate this week. The bill, which passed the House in a 74-18 vote, found no support in a Senate judiciary committee.


The measure by Republican state Rep. Henry Burns would have required the religious leader of a church, mosque or synagogue to sign off on any plan to allow weapons and notify their congregations.


Burns told the committee that changing times mean that churches are not the safe places they used to be and so should be able to take steps to protect worshippers.


Opponents had argued it was inappropriate to have concealed handguns in church, but there was little debate about the measure in the Senate committee Tuesday before it was killed on a 3-0 vote.

[evolution8]

Guns in church bill headed to Jindal
Associated Press - 6/19/2010 4:25:00
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Defa ... id=1056534



BATON ROUGE, LA - Concealed weapons will be allowed in some Louisiana churches after all.


The House-passed proposal had been rejected earlier, but a state senator revived the bill and got it tacked into another measure. The Senate approved it and sent it back to the House, which voted its final approval and sent the bill to Gov. Bobby Jindal, who supports it.


Churches, synagogues and mosques choosing to allow concealed weapons will have to inform their congregations of the decision. Anyone wishing to carry a concealed weapon in a church will have to take an extra eight hours of tactical training each year.


Supporters of the bill said it can be a deterrent against criminal activity in church and will give an option to ministers and pastors to incorporate concealed handguns into their security plans.


Guns will still be banned in churches that hold services on school property.