Appeals court upholds Ga. ban on guns in church

[rug]

July 23, 2012
Kate Brumback

A federal appeals court has upheld Georgia's law banning guns in churches and other places of worship.

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision, published Friday, upholds a lower court's dismissal of a lawsuit challenging the law. The lawsuit was filed by a gun rights organization _ GeorgiaCarry.org _ and the Rev. Jonathan Wilkins of the Baptist Tabernacle of Thomaston. Wilkins had said he wanted to have a gun for protection while working in the church office.

The 11th Circuit rejected arguments that Georgia's ban violates the plaintiffs' First Amendment right to freedom of religion and Second Amendment right to bear arms.

John Monroe, a lawyer for Georgia Carry, said Monday the plaintiffs hadn't decided whether to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Jul/23/appeals_court_upholds_ga__ban_on_guns_in_church.html

Here's the Opinion.

http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/ops/201110387.pdf

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. How can you worship if you arn't armed?

This is just awful.

[rug]

2. I don't know why they lost. They made such compelling case.

"In this case, Edward Stone and Jonathan Wilkins ('Plaintiffs) each allege in their Amended Complaint that they regularly attend religious services, possess a weapons carry license, and 'would like to carry a handgun' while in a place of worship."

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. Maybe the didn't put enough folding stuff in the offering plate.

[cbayer]

4. They absolutely have to draw the line somewhere, and I think the legislature drew it pretty well.

These are the exceptions to the carry law:

the Legislature left intact restrictions that banned guns from being carried into government buildings, courthouses, jails and prisons, state mental health facilities, nuclear plants and houses of worship. Lawmakers also restricted owners from bringing weapons into bars without permission from the owner.

[rug]

5. That's reasonable enough.

[2ndAmForComputers]

7. I triple dog dare you two to reproduce that two-post dialogue in the Gungeon.

[rug]

9. Why, did you hurt your fingers?

Cut and paste away.

[2ndAmForComputers]

10. I'd like to repeat the "irresistible force meets immovable object" experiment in a DU setting.

The OP gives us a significant result of that same experiment in a court setting. (Your side won. Congratulations.)

[rug]

11. Done.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/117253951

But not for your reasons. It's a legitimate topic there.

[demosincebirth]

6. They had more gun control in the Wild West than we do now in some states.

[Adsos Letter]

8. No guns in church?!

...back to milking stools, I guess.