Guns, church, and self defense

Guns are dangerous. My mom taught me from a very early age how to treat guns. I had two guns of my own when I was 9 and recently I purchased a Springfield XD .45 ACP (a hand gun). I shoot on a regular basis with friends (some of them are police officers) and members of the church.

I have usually used guns for hunting. My last purchase is a little different though. I bought this gun for self defense. After reading about a man in South Africa who may have saved countless lives by carrying his gun to church, I wonder if it is time pastors became armed and dangerous with more then a sword. In a world where America is hated and terrorism is a real threat, I can't think of a more logical target for radical Muslim terrorist to attack then an American church. I don't mean to be alarmist, but there becomes a time to be alarmed.

Perhaps the scene in Mel Gibson's movie The Patriot, where the pastor picks up his gun and goes off to fight the British takes on new meaning in today's world.

Certainly I am not suggesting breaking the law. In some states the law provides this very opportunity.

When it becomes available I will be reading, "Shooting Back: The Right and Duty of Self-Defense," written by the man in South Africa who carried his .38 to church.