BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Concealed weapons will be allowed inside
some of Louisiana's churches.
The House gave final passage to the proposal with a 64-26 vote
Thursday, sending the measure to Gov. Bobby Jindal, who supports
it.
Churches, synagogues and mosques choosing to allow concealed
carry will have to inform their congregations of the decision.
Anyone wishing to carry a concealed weapon in a church will have to
take an extra eight hours of tactical training each year.
The proposal will not apply to churches on school property.
Supporters of the bill by Rep. Henry Burns, R-Haughton, said it
can be a deterrent against criminal activity in church and will
give an option to ministers and pastors to incorporate concealed
handguns into their security plans.
Opponents argue it's inappropriate to have concealed handguns in
church.
"Unstrap your guns when you go to church and understand that
it's about the business of the Lord. It's not about the business of
your guns," said Rep. Barbara Norton, D-Shreveport.
The House-passed proposal had been rejected earlier this session
by a Senate committee, but Sen. Joe McPherson, D-Woodworth, revived
the bill and got it tacked into another measure on the Senate
floor, bypassing the committee. The Senate approved it and sent it
back to the House.

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