Posted on 01/03/2006 11:13:58 AM PST by JZelle
Several congregants at Mount Zion United Methodist Church in Bel Air, Md., thought the gunman with a ski mask who interrupted their New Year's Day service was part of their pastor's lesson. But the man wasn't there to impart any spiritual instruction. He was there to rob them. "We were about to watch a video clip [and] we heard a voice saying, 'This is a robbery' from the back of the church," said Gary Davis, who was among about 50 worshippers at the Sunday evening service. "Basically, we all thought it was a skit. Everybody was turning around smiling at the guy." The smiles faded quickly as the gunman cursed and ordered some children to collect wallets and purses. "Once I realized it was real, there [was] still an element of disbelief," said Mr. Davis, 55, who has attended Mount Zion for about 16 years. "You're in church, and you never expect that to happen during church." Bob Thomas, a spokesman for the Harford County Sheriff's Office, said the armed robbery was the county's first during a worship service in at least 10 years. Investigators could not recall the last such incident. The robber burst in at about 6:37 p.m. as the congregation was ending the praise-and-worship portion of the service, Mr. Thomas said. The gunman ordered three boys -- ages 11, 8 and 6 -- and one woman to gather wallets and purses. The Rev. Craig McLaughlin, Mount Zion's pastor for 19 years, said the gunman appeared agitated and nervous. "I was just sitting there while it was going on praying that everybody would stay still and not do anything that would get anybody hurt," said Mr. McLaughlin, 48, who was in a front pew.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
If that happened at my synogogue, at least 4 or 5 of us would take out guns and the SOB would either be caught and handed to the police, or end up in the morgue.
This happens all the time. Usually it is just the preacher who does the holdup.
This wouldn't have happened in Minnesota, because we now have large signs on the doors of many churches and offices that says "Guns are banned on these premises".
I doubt this would happen in a state with a "shall issue" concealed carry law.
My family used to go to that church. I imagine there has been a lot of turnover since I moved out of the area (more than 20 years ago) but I still have some old friends in Bel Air. I am thankful no one was hurt.
If four or five members of the congregation emptied their magazines into the SOB, he'd go to the morgue.
Let's see...... my options are shoot and kill him.... or give him money and pray for him???
I never thought we'd need to take our guns to church, geeze!
/johnny
and in the parking lot, on the side walk, etc.
It just bugs my priest to no when I talk about concealed carry. I went so far as to introduce him to a pistol packing preacher I know at at an Episcopal social event. The PPP and I had endless amusemnt talking about our new "toys".
GA is a shall issue state, in the general sense of the phrase (I welcome corrections). However on the back of my permit it excludes carry to "church or church functions".
Carrying to a place that serves booze on the premises is likewise prohibited. IMHO I don't care as much about carry at a bar/restaurant nearly as much as the walk to and from same, but WTH.
Why? There was a mass murderer who attacked a church in Fort Worth a few years ago. The left foments hatred against religious people.
So... where do you live? I can always use more prayers and more money.
I don't think the concealed carry law in Texas applies to churches unless they have a sign prohibiting carrying weapons. Houses of worship can be quite vulnerable to attack by armed intruders.
Remember back a few years ago, people were giving President Bush a hard time because when he was Governor of Texas there was some to-do about the 'Rats wanting to make it illegal to have a concealed weapon in church and the 'Pubbies stopped them? The 'Rats had a merry field day about how ChimpyMcBushHitler wanted everybody to have to carry a gun to church.
Dare I say it? I can't help myself. "Dominic go frisk em."
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