Do you/would you carry a concealed firearm to Mass?

[Duesenberg]

Nobody I know has a Saber.

So? Mine’s a saber. It was forged by Wilkinson in England.

It’s a tradition in some parts for men to will their KofC swords to younger men. That’s how I received mine.

 

[stinkcat_14]

That’s a ridiculous retort. It’s remarkable what peoples’ hatred and fear of firearms will make them post.

I have no hatred nor fear of firearms. There is nothing I have said that has suggested that. You have no right to bear false witness against me.

 

[StephieNorthCo]

We have never had a shooting at church, but we have had at least 4 collapses (heart or whatever) during Mass that I’ve attended. First responders have been there within a minute. Of course it helps that the local fire station is less than a block away.

 

[ucfengr]

A foil is a sword for the sport of fencing. It doesn’t have an edge.

 

[JoshuaIsLord]

You have pic of yours? Mine does not look like a foil. A foil is used fencing.
Mine looks like this as well as everybody else that has one in the State.
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.) And it is only sharp on the tip.

 

[Duesenberg]

I have no hatred nor fear of firearms. There is nothing I have said that has suggested that. You have no right to bear false witness against me.

I didn’t bear false witness against you or anyone else. Just take a look at your anti-firearms posts. Your bias is very clear.

 

[Vonsalza]

Your bias is very clear.

I think most of us here would agree that accusation fluidly goes both ways.

 

[stinkcat_14]

I didn’t bear false witness against you or anyone else. Just take a look at your anti-firearms posts. Your bias is very clear.

Allright, it is time to put up or shut up. Give me an example of an anti-firearms post that I wrote. If you cannot produce it, then it is clearly false witness.

 

[Duesenberg]

I get it. Some will never be up to defending themselves and/or loved ones using a firearm. Advanced age, infirmity, fear, economic condition, anti-gun mentality, cowardice, inability to gain correct training and experience, etc., etc. all play a part. I wasn’t however prepared to receive some of the following responses. The excuses…

I am stunned to say the least. I wonder how the average Catholic response would differ (if at all) from those of our Orthodox, Protestant, Jewish and non-churched brethren?

I wouldn’t. No. To me it sends the wrong signal upon entering the temple of the Most High.

No I would not. Sorry, not with you on this one. It is holy ground.

No. I don’t think it should be legal to own handguns.

I could never enter a house of God armed - unless I join ISIS that is.

Nope. I can’t think of a better place to meet Our Lord for my individual judgement than at Mass.

Wow. What an incredible opportunity. No, on second thought, perhaps similar in ranking would be to be in confession when a mad bomber shows up.

Catholics should be prepared to die where they stand at any point in their life without exception. It is impossible to die except when God is ready for us to die. Until then, we are de facto impervious to death.

Average people don’t walk around with firearms.

If we are going to be worried about getting killed by some maniac with a gun, we would not be able to leave the house these days.

That is the fate of one who is ruled by fear and not by faith. They are confined to an unhappy and distrustful existence. Being interiorly a slave to their own emotions.

Absolutely not.

I am a Catholic.

For what purpose would I need one?

Thou shall not kill.

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

How pathetic…so this is the price of upholding the 2nd amendment right to bear arms…lets all take our guns to church

When Peter tried to defend Jesus with his sword, the Lord said to put the sword away.

Jesus said “all who take the sword will perish by the sword.”

 

[stinkcat_14]

I get it. Some will never be up to defending themselves and/or loved ones using a firearm. Advanced age, infirmity, fear, economic condition, anti-gun mentality, cowardice, inability to gain correct training and experience, etc., etc. all play a part. I wasn’t however prepared to receive some of the following responses. The excuses…

I am stunned to say the least. I wonder how the average Catholic response would differ (if at all) from those of our Orthodox, Protestant, Jewish and non-churched brethren?

The thing I find most amusing is that you accused me a being anti-gun and yet you cannot find one quote from me that backs up your false accusation.

Also, I would argue that you should try for a little more humility. Whether one should own a gun is something that is up to our prudential judgement. There is nothing in Catholic teaching that says that we must at all times be packing heat. As Augustine said, in essentials unity, in nonessentials, liberty, in all things charity.

 

[exnihilo]

You don’t think some people who have no military or police training aren’t more proficient with guns? There are some thirteen year old girls who are better with guns than most police or military.

 

[twf]

A huge part of it is cultural. America has a very strong gun culture - for better or for worse. Most of the developed world does not have this pro-gun mentality (other than hunting enthusiasts).
Here in Vancouver I don’t know anyone who carries a gun… yet Canada’s average homicide rate is half of America’s (per capita).

 

[stinkcat_14]

In this context, both of the following comments are anti-gun:

stinkcat_14:

What is anti-gun about them? I asked whether the benefit of drills exceeded the cost. Perhaps they do and they are a prudent thing to do. Or perhaps they don’t and are a waste of time and money. I didn’t say anything about guns one way or another and for you to claim otherwise is false witness.

I am at a total loss to figure out what fire drills have to do with either being pro-gun or anti-gun.

So you failed miserably, I have not stated anything anti-gun. For you to continually claim otherwise is false witness.

 

[stinkcat_14]

You’re simply wrong. Someone made a good point – if we have fire drills, why can’t we have active-shooter drills? You actually denigrated fire drills (!) in order to push your anti-gun agenda. You failed.

As a guy named Ron used to say: There you go again. You really are addicted to this false witness aren’t you? For your information, Mr. False Witness, I specifically stated earlier in this thread that I am not against guns. I proudly support the second amendment, if my living situation was different I might own some guns.

Now, I happen to be an economist by profession and training. Now, do I bring those skills to problems such as the topic of this current thread? Of course! Asking whether the benefit of something exceeds the cost is not anti-gun. I just don’t see how your attitude is Christian in the least.

 

[Eric_Hyom]

I get it. Some will never be up to defending themselves and/or loved ones using a firearm. Advanced age, infirmity, fear, economic condition, anti-gun mentality, cowardice, inability to gain correct training and experience, etc., etc. all play a part.

I don’t know how many times I have stood in the middle of fights in the last ten years. A couple of weeks ago there were three separate drunken fights with blood, this often happens after three am when the pubs close.

I have had a knife held up to my throat, and I have taken two knives from people. This is purely down to faith in God, I am an old man of 68, and often I am with ladies in their seventies. We don’t do self defence, and I am aware that we are the weakest people on the street.

We are part of the Street Pastor ministry. This came about when the friend of a church minister was shot and killed by a gang of youths in Jamaica. After the funeral, the minister and a few parishioners prayed, and they went out to look for these gangs of kids. I wonder how you reason with gun carrying kids on drugs who are living in poverty, but somehow these church goers started to make a difference.

Les Isaacs brought this ministry to the UK in 2003, and I believe there are now about 15,000 volunteers around the UK, and it is going world wide.

 

[Duesenberg]

A huge part of it is cultural. America has a very strong gun culture - for better or for worse. Most of the developed world does not have this pro-gun mentality (other than hunting enthusiasts).

Here in Vancouver I don’t know anyone who carries a gun… yet Canada’s average homicide rate is half of America’s (per capita).

Yes, because most other nations have been disarmed at some point by their leaders.

Canada is a small country population-wise. Smaller than California. It’s population is also fairly homogeneous. It’s folly to compare it to the USA that have 10x its population – a population that is far more diverse and then blame the difference on the USA’s gun culture.

Further, modern sporting rifles (save for the political boogieman AR15 rifle) are commonly available in CA, so it’s not the supply or type of guns that’s really the issue.

http://www.firearmsoutletcanada.com/

 

[Raxus]

I have no issues with concealed carry during Mass, personally speaking. At my parish, however, (In the Texas Panhandle) there is a sign stating that firearms are not allowed in the church. I think it’s a little foolish, myself, but I don’t run things there, so. More power to 'em.

 

[JesusReigns]

Guards MIGHT be good in certain towns with large parishes. Just curious, doesn’t the Pope have a great amount of protection? Just curious. I’m not saying it’s wrong… However it just jogged my memory as I have heard a gentleman say that the Pope could not be a man of God because he needs protection and that if he was “really of God” he wouldnt need protection. How might I refute such an argument?

 

[Eric_Hyom]

I get it. Some will never be up to defending themselves and/or loved ones using a firearm. Advanced age, infirmity, fear, economic condition, anti-gun mentality, cowardice, inability to gain correct training and experience, etc., etc. all play a part. I wasn’t however prepared to receive some of the following responses. The excuses…

I am stunned to say the least.

casslean:

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

Thou shall not kill.

When Peter tried to defend Jesus with his sword, the Lord said to put the sword away.

Jesus said “all who take the sword will perish by the sword.”

I am not sure why you should be stunned when people quote the bible on a Catholic forum.

 

[Duesenberg]

Everyone here that thinks Canada is some sort of gun-free™ heaven should take a look at Firearms Outlet Canada’s website.

Note the freely available semi-automatic firearms on this page: Freely available semi-automatic firearms in Canada

and the “restricted” firearms on this page: “Restricted” firearms in Canada

What exactly are the differences? LOL! What a complete joke! Canada is at least as ridiculously political about firearms as California is. Absolutely nuts!