“[T]he Rhode Island State Council of Churches does
NOT endorse a policy of anyone bringing a concealed weapon into a worship
service,” wrote the group’s Executive Minister Donald
Anderson in response to a Providence
Journal article, Officers urged to bring
concealed weapons to church.
In the Providence
Journal piece, Rhode Island State
Police Captain Derek
Borek, while overseeing an active
shooter training for “more than 100 clergymen, greeters, ushers,
and parishioners from churches across the state… told the group that most Rhode
Island troopers carry their guns to churches and synagogues when they attend,”
noting that bringing guns to worship services is “encouraged for all law
enforcement officers…”
In his response,
Reverend Anderson wrote that though the Rhode Island State Council of Churches,
“has encouraged congregations to participate in active shooter training in
order help clergy and congregants be better prepared should they encounter the
nightmare of an active shooter,” the group never, “expected that there would be
any recommendation to encourage concealed weapons being brought into
worship.
“Although each congregation must determine their own policy, the Rhode Island State Council of Churches does NOT endorse a policy of anyone bringing a concealed weapon into a worship service. Worship space is ‘safe space’ and when a weapon is present that space is not ‘safe.’ For many congregants the presence of a weapon is emotionally and theologically upsetting and is counter to an atmosphere of worship.”
Anderson noted that “the
rest of the workshop seems to have been productive and appreciated, but this
suggestion of introducing weapons into a worship service as a matter of course
is most disturbing.”
Instead of encouraging
the introduction of weapons into churches, Anderson suggested targeting elected
officials who accept campaign contributions from the gun lobby.
“We would do better to focus our
efforts on prevention. The article on Monday (Focus returns to guns,
flow of lobby money) details Rhode Island political
figures who have accepted almost $20,000 from GOPAC (RI Gun Owners PAC) who are both Republicans and Democrats. This
“blood money” has been used to stall common sense gun
legislation in recent sessions. Bills that would limit guns on school
grounds and limit the number of bullets in a clip never make it to the House or
Senate floors for a debate and vote. Rhode Islanders, especially people of
faith, should demand that politicians return every blooded penny of those
donations. Newtown, Connecticut is less than 90 miles from our state
border.
“IT COULD HAPPEN HERE! Is that
what it will take for us to wake up?
“Will Rhode Island students,
teachers and staff have to pay with their lives for our political leaders to
wake?
“Our message should be loud and
clear: give back the blood money, get off your hands and pass meaningful,
common sense gun legislation in THIS SESSION.”