Guns In Church In Tennessee
BY Herschel Smith
9 years, 2 months ago
People can’t bring guns to a church, religious entity or private school — even if it is private property — if that property is being used for a school event, according to a new opinion from Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery.
“Under the (law), the statute pertains to property being operated or while in use by any school. The statute does not exclude property of religious institutions or any particular type of school, including parochial schools, from its scope,” Slatery writes.
Parochial schools or churches that allow the usage of certain buildings for school activities must ban guns on the property while it is being used by a school, Slatery says. The guns are specifically not allowed within the actual facility or area being used for the school activity.
“For example, if a private school were using church grounds to hold a festival encompassing the entire church property, gun possession would be prohibited on the entire grounds. However, if the school were using only a discrete and separate building on church grounds, other portions of the church’s property might not fall within the scope of (the law),” Slatery writes.
This is similar to a pissy little interpretation of the rules for many states, where guns cannot be carried in churches if they are attached to or part of schools, including parochial schools. So any church that has a K5 ir first grade program for which it charges money and administers tests, must prohibit weapons on church property (since it is the same thing as school property to a bad lawyer).
The simple thing to do in this instance is get the legislature to make a law clarifying that guns can be carried in church regardless of the fact that the church may have a parochial school. Folks, if you attend worship services, think for a moment about the risk.
Ingress and egress is usually limited to two or three points, and is usually behind you. You are sitting alongside other people who block your access for egress, oh, and did I mention that you’re sitting? If it’s a large church you are a long way from the point of egress, and your attention is usually focused on the wrong end of the building for security.
You and your family are sitting ducks. Carry guns to worship. I just can’t say it enough.
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On September 23, 2015 at 7:31 am, TexTopCat said:
Yes!
On September 23, 2015 at 11:34 am, Archer said:
“However, if the school were using only a discrete and separate building
on church grounds, other portions of the church’s property might not
fall within the scope of (the law),” Slatery writes.
Excuse me?
Might not?
I thought this was a legal opinion by a government attorney charged with prosecuting violations of the law, not a hemming and hawing over possibilities by an “IANAL” type.
On September 26, 2015 at 12:51 pm, SunwolfNC said:
You can’t expect them to block themselves from changing the laws and statutes later to better suit their political agendas, can you? They’re hedging for the future when the screws get tighter…
On September 23, 2015 at 2:21 pm, tl said:
i don’t ask this jackass where i can and can not carry, i carry EVERYWHERE.
On September 23, 2015 at 7:48 pm, FiftycalTX said:
How is it the POWER of the state to define what you can and cannot do in a CHURCH? Is this a STATE OWNED CHURCH? If a church is “private property” and wants to ban guns, it can, right? So how is it within the purview of a government what goes on in a church. With the “polygamy” statutes about to be eliminated, just like homosexual marriage was legitimated, time to get the state out of the religion business.
On September 24, 2015 at 10:34 am, Bobbye said:
All property within the boundary of a state in under the control of that state. The simple solution is to hire members of the congregation as security during meeting times and pay them $1. Could do the same for school.
On September 24, 2015 at 12:52 pm, Phil Ossiferz Stone said:
>All property within the boundary of a state in under the control of that state.
In a pig’s eye.
On September 26, 2015 at 12:55 pm, SunwolfNC said:
I hate the reality of it, too, but cite an example of property within your state that is not solely owned by that state where their control is not exerted?
You have trash can laws. Noise ordinances. Laws saying you’re not allowed to collect rain from your roof (in some places). Laws saying what kinds of animals you can and can’t keep on your property.
On September 24, 2015 at 9:03 am, Liston Matthews said:
3. Firearm Possession Would Be Prohibited Only While the Property Is Being Operated or Used by a School.
Under the plain meaning of the statute, firearm possession would be prohibited on the
property “operated, or while in use by any . . . school . . . .
Therefore, while the property is not being operated or in use by a school, the property
would not fall within the scope of the statute.
the school’s administrator is responsible for posting the required signs in different parts of the areas being operated or being used and while the property is being operated or used….
SEE: http://attorneygeneral.tn.gov/op/2015/op15-67.pdf
On September 24, 2015 at 10:56 am, Herschel Smith said:
And that simply has NOT been the interpretation in so many states I’ve lost count, whether it’s logical or not.
On September 25, 2015 at 6:47 pm, DAN III said:
Guns in church ? What’s the big deal ? That’s why they call it “concealed carry”.