Poll: Concealed Weapons among Plain Anabaptists?

[Wade]

I understand that some plain Anabaptist groups have members who carry concealed handguns, even to church.
..

I’m still stuck on this... why do Anabaptists need handguns at church?

Apparently there are "wild animals"

My father-in-law loves to tell the story that one time after church service while people were still getting in their cars, his uncle (who was the priest that just did mass) ran out of the church building still in his robes with his 30-06 and shot a nice bull elk in the field behind the church building... So I guess that's why Catholics have guns and ammo at church.

[steve-in-kville]

I understand that some plain Anabaptist groups have members who carry concealed handguns, even to church.
..

I’m still stuck on this... why do Anabaptists need handguns at church?

Two-legged critters?

[mike]

I guess I could make the case for packing heat in church due to the fact that we once had a timber rattlesnake outside. The kids found it coiled up and in a bad mood in the driveway.

[steve-in-kville]

I guess I could make the case for packing heat in church due to the fact that we once had a timber rattlesnake outside. The kids found it coiled up and in a bad mood in the driveway.

Ooof. I would imagine you left it alone?

I keep forgetting you're upstate from me. We have the occasional copperhead. Never seen a rattler around here.

[Ernie]

I understand that some plain Anabaptist groups have members who carry concealed handguns, even to church.
..

I’m still stuck on this... why do Anabaptists need handguns at church?

From what I can gather in this thread, some Plain people carry handguns on their person all waking hours whether they are needed or not. It is part of getting dressed in the morning.

What we don't know yet is what percentage would use these handguns on people. (And we may never know since most people who look to handguns for security aren't going to publish their intentions on the internet.)

[steve-in-kville]

From what I can gather in this thread, some Plain people carry handguns on their person all waking hours whether they are needed or not. It is part of getting dressed in the morning.

What we don't know yet is what percentage would use these handguns on people. (And we may never know since most people who look to handguns for security aren't going to publish their intentions on the internet.)

The best way I know how to explain it, it really depends how you interpret scripture and how literally you take a non-resistant stand.

Example: some folks are quick to call the police on about anything. Others refuse to involve the law. If you're an employer, and an employee steals from the company, do you report it to the cops, or handle it internally?

[barnhart]

I understand that some plain Anabaptist groups have members who carry concealed handguns, even to church.
..

I’m still stuck on this... why do Anabaptists need handguns at church?

I imagine people who feel they need them find they need them every where.

Two weeks ago I was exiting Lowes and the man walking behind me reached into his pocket/pants and accidentally discharged his concealed handgun. I helped him to the curb and called 911. The bullet severed his femoral artery and by the time help arrived, he had lost more blood than I thought a person might have in total.

I have been reading through Isaiah and noticed the warnings against turning to unreliable things for safety.
" Look, I know you are depending on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff, which pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it! Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who depend on him". 36:6

[Karstan78]

I guess I could make the case for packing heat in church due to the fact that we once had a timber rattlesnake outside. The kids found it coiled up and in a bad mood in the driveway.

We lived in Australia where there were several highly poisonous snakes. At one evening song service there were three inside the church (two eastern browns and a harmless tree snake). I don’t think a firearm was on anyone’s mind to use to scare them off.

With persecution and conscription so fresh in our church’s history (and the fact that certain governments are discussing bringing it back in) firearms in/at church is such a slippery slope and likely to cause more trouble than just not carrying one.

[Josh]

From what I can gather in this thread, some Plain people carry handguns on their person all waking hours whether they are needed or not. It is part of getting dressed in the morning.

What we don't know yet is what percentage would use these handguns on people. (And we may never know since most people who look to handguns for security aren't going to publish their intentions on the internet.)

The best way I know how to explain it, it really depends how you interpret scripture and how literally you take a non-resistant stand.

Example: some folks are quick to call the police on about anything. Others refuse to involve the law. If you're an employer, and an employee steals from the company, do you report it to the cops, or handle it internally?

I tend to notify law enforcement with a truthful report when I suspect a crime (such as sexual abuse) is being committed.

I realise some plain people think I shouldn’t do that.

[Josh]

I understand that some plain Anabaptist groups have members who carry concealed handguns, even to church.
..

I’m still stuck on this... why do Anabaptists need handguns at church?

From what I can gather in this thread, some Plain people carry handguns on their person all waking hours whether they are needed or not. It is part of getting dressed in the morning.

What we don't know yet is what percentage would use these handguns on people. (And we may never know since most people who look to handguns for security aren't going to publish their intentions on the internet.)

I would agree, similarly to how some people are still “Plain”, but listen to country music on the radio, watch TV using DVDs rented from the library, and wear a skirt and coverings to church on Sunday but are comfortable with yoga pants and no covering during the week if they’re out of town.