Churches in Minnesota win another round on gun ban
Court of Appeals: Churches can lawfully ban guns from their premises. Court agrees to exempt religious institutions from the 2005 law.
In another victory for churches wanting to ban guns from their premises, the state Court of Appeals issued a 32-page decision Tuesday agreeing with the district court that religious institutions are exempt from the so-called Minnesota Citizens' Personal Protection Act of 2005.
Exempt. Meaning they're better or more deserving of special treatment that other entities. And I grouse about this as a religious person. So, instead of simply asking their parishioners to not bring in guns, they have to threaten them with legal action?
Churches also are not required to post the statutorily proscribed signs that say that the building operator "BANS GUNS ON THESE PREMISES."
"The uncontroverted affidavits before us establish that the sign provision does compel churches that wish to exclude firearms to act in a manner that is inconsistent with their religious beliefs by requiring that they place specific, conspicuous signs at every entrance to the church," said the opinion written by Judge David Minge and signed by Judges Jill Flaskamp Halbrooks and Terri Stoneburner.
Horseshit. I don't remember the 11th Commandment "Thou shan't place signs up at the doors of churches".
Are churches also exempt from following the fire codes and putting up lit exit signs? Do they not require the same building codes as everyone else or can a church use asbestos for insulation and lead paint. Because of religious stuff?
The decision means the Edina Community Lutheran Church can continue to legally bar guns with signs saying "Blessed are the peacemakers. Firearms are prohibited in this place of sanctuary." Other churches may choose their own wording.
The decision also means that parking lots, day-care centers and other charitable, educational and nonprofit facilities owned by churches may ban firearms.
I have zero problem with a church asking it's idiots... sheep... members to disarm. As long as they continue to dole out the cash in the offering plates, so be it. If my church were to put up a sign like that, I'd honor it and they can kiss my tithe (and my preschool money) goodbye. God doesn't "keep you safe, physically". If he did, we'd never need to go to a doctor, wouldn't have to wear shoes while walking on nails and broken glass, nor would we need to wear clothes in the snow. Do these same people not wear seatbelts because God will protect them? Do they not strap their babies in child seats for the same reason?
I understand that the house of God is not a place for evil violence, but like gun laws, only the faithful follow that rule. And, like I've said before, if during service some idiot comes in to show how weak God is and start shooting, everyone is going to pray that God protects them. I'll be the answer to that prayer.
Unity Church of St. Paul also sued, arguing that compliance with the sign requirement "would be inconsistent with its mission to provide a safe sanctuary and welcoming place of worship."
Nice. A church that lies. Requiring a specific sign has nothing to do with keeping guns out of your property. And what if a church down the road actually cared about its parishioners and didn't mind them protecting themselves? Your blanket ban runs roughshod over their wishes.
Pastor Erik Strand of Edina Community Lutheran Church said he was pleased with the decision, as did Marshall Tanick, the lawyer for Unity Church. "We're especially thankful that the court recognized and protected our congregation's witness to peacemaking and nonviolence in all relationships," Strand said in a written statement.
Because God knows, he never commanded anyone to march around a city, slay a giant, beat their plowshares into swords, or fight for him. I wonder if these churches take a black Sharpie to the pew bibles and cross those parts out or do they just rip the pages free and burn them?
This is why I'm mostly agnostic. There's a lot more to this universe than we're ever going to be able to determine (Thank you, Herr Heisenberg) and I truly believe that we get a generalized sense of right and wrong from something spiritual. I also doubt that God requires me to simply stand there while someone murders my family, other people or myself. Violence in and of itself is not the bad thing, its why you are employing it that determines its place on the "bad" scale.
I'd have no problem if this wasn't a legally binding issue. Like employers' parking lots, as long as the only "punishment" is between me and the landowner (i.e. I can be asked to leave or be fired) then I believe in your right, however stupid and uninformed, to make a no guns sign. But for an organization that wants all the benefits of not being controlled by the government (something I approve of), they sure as hell want to use the force of government to push their wishes on the public.
rolled out on
Tuesday, February 05, 2008 7:50 PM