I bet there were more guns in churches this morning than any gun show

I go to a small church...there are probably about 75-80 attendees on any given Sunday, and that includes children. I know of at least 3 other people who carry every Sunday...and there are probably more. My pastor is a younger guy from the city...not quite as right-leaning as most of the locals. I think at first he was a little taken aback when he found out. I explained to him that as a cop, I carry everywhere, and my department expects me to. If my gun can't go, I don't go.

He's come to realize over the years that we're not a bunch of crazed gun nuts...we just believe in protecting ourselves and our families. He even asked me to do a talk on gun safety one time during a men's breakfast at the church, complete with a few firearms for familiarization/show-and-tell. I'd be interested to have another talk with him now, considering recent events, to get his take on things.

My dad is a pastor of a rural church in Ohio. There are a number of active and retired cops, as well as plenty of hunters and firearms enthusiasts in his congregation. He has openly encouraged members to carry to church. If anybody ever tried to pull a stunt like Sutherland Springs in his church, they'd likely be cleaning him out of the foyer with a mop and shovel.

I’ve been carrying in church for years. I’ve given carry advice and sold firearms to pastors, it’s nothing new in Texas. I’ve had a pastor at a church I used to go to tell me to open carry my S&W 500 (the 4” version). I was tempted to but felt it would be a distraction. I’ve actually preached before while carrying concealed. I wouldn’t attend a church that prohibited them.

I have always carried my weapon to church. Statistically, you can't get a softer target. On a side note, many, many years ago my Pastor grabbed me after the service and whispered to me, "Hey, do you carry your gun in church? I said yes I do! He smiled and said good! I want to have an armed person here every service. We are a conservative church and he routinely prays for the Police and Military.

Yeah... I've been carrying at church since I've had my permit.

I normally carry a Seecamp on me but now it will be a 43.

I never understood disarming yourself for things like this.

Turn the other cheek sounds great until you are the lamb at the slaughter.