Guns and Religion

This past week, Georgia passed a gun law that is the most universal: guns are allowed in almost any setting... provided the setting accepts people to carry guns.  That's right: schools, bars, and churches just to name a few of the more controversial places.  So I thought we might take a little trip down the history of the church:

In the Old Testament, it seemed that weapons were not only welcomed in the Temple, but arguably a part of the service.  Sure, these weapons weren't guns, and they were holy instruments that would be used to slaughter the sacrificial animal on the altar (and not people) but I'm sure some could point out that a weapon is a weapon no matter where it has been used.

However, there were also places of sanctuary in the Old Testament (safe places to go to for those who were considered criminals before due process).  These places didn't allow for those who were victims of a crime to seek out their own vengeance if the supposed criminal was within the walls of the city.  While the Bible clearly states "an eye for an eye" justice (or in an extreme case: a life for a life), I would argue that these towns of refuge (from Joshua 20) were the start of sanctuary in the Christian church, although I must admit, I haven't done much research on the matter.

In the Christian church history, it wasn't long before those who were being persecuted fled to the church for safety (this was once the church became an acceptable religion).  The church was considered holy ground in which bloodshed would not be tolerated.  However, in more recent history, we have stories every few months of people walled in the church begging for mercy and people on the outside setting fire to the church walls or brazenly walking in with weapons of any type, killing people on church property.  It was only a few years ago a Lutheran Church in Pennsylvania laid witness to a congregation member killing the secretary of the church with a gun.

Should a similar legislation pass in New York state, our Council would immediately be called to decide our stance upon the matter.  In all honesty, I don't see this happening any time in the near future.  But it doesn't hurt to get a conversation started: would you allow for guns to be permitted on church property and if so, would there be any conditions you would put on the user of the gun(s)?  Or if you are on the other side of the fence, on what basis do you defend your claim for no guns on church property?  Would you consider other weapons permissible on church property and if so, which ones?