Louisiana state Rep. Henry Burns (R) has introduced a bill in the Louisiana House that would allow churches to institute a “security plan” enabling congregants with concealed weapons permits to carry guns into churches and temples.
According to a Burns spokesperson, “we buy fire extinguishers in case there’s a fire,” and allowing churchgoers to carry concealed is just the “final stage of security” for places of worship.
House Bill 68 would allow a church or temple to authorize an unlimited number of congregation members to bring their guns into church, according to the individual church’s own guidelines.
Burns’ spokesperson Dodie Horton told TPM that the bill is “limited in scope” and “all about choice.” Church leaders could elect to “implement a security plan by using members of their church” who have permits to carry concealed, or they could opt out and not allow guns in at all. She added that even in churches that are part of the security plan, “if someone who is not part of that security plan comes into the church with a gun, they’re still breaking the law.”
“God gives us locks on our doors,” said Horton, adding: “We buy fire extinguishers in case there’s a fire.” This bill would simply offer a “final stage of security” for those churches that choose it.
“It’s a security plan, not a free-for-all gun shoot,” said Horton.
When asked if Burns believes he has the votes to pass the bill in the state House, Horton replied that Arkansas has passed a similar bill, but “it’s all in God’s hands.”
