Tulsa World: Pastor welcomes pistols at church celebration

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Pastor welcomes pistols at church celebration

Ken Pagano, the pastor of New Bethel Church in Louisville, Ky., talks Thursday about his invitation to gun owners to bring their pistols to celebrate the Fourth of July and the Second Amendment. Ed Reinke / Associated Press

By DYLAN T. LOVAN Associated Press
Published: 6/5/2009 2:27 AM
Last Modified: 6/5/2009 5:07 AM

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Kentucky pastor is inviting his congregation to bring guns to church to celebrate the Fourth of July and the Second Amendment.

New Bethel Church is welcoming "responsible handgun owners" to wear their firearms inside the church June 27, a Saturday. An ad says activities will include a handgun raffle, patriotic music and information on gun safety.

"We're just going to celebrate the upcoming theme of the birth of our nation," said the pastor, Ken Pagano. "And we're not ashamed to say that there was a strong belief in God and firearms — without that this country wouldn't be here."

The guns must be unloaded and private security will check visitors at the door, Pagano said.

Recent church shootings, including the killing Sunday of a late-term abortion provider in Kansas, which Pagano condemned, highlight the need to promote safe gun ownership, he said.

The church's event was planned months before Dr. George Tiller was shot to death in a Wichita church.

Kentucky allows residents to carry guns openly in public with some restrictions. Gun owners who carry concealed weapons must have state permits and can't take them to schools, jails or bars, among other exceptions.

New Bethel Church, which attracts up to 150 people to Sunday services, is a member of the Assemblies of God. Pagano, a former Marine and pistol instructor, said he expected some backlash but has heard only a "little bit" of criticism.

John Phillips, an Arkansas pastor who was shot twice while leading a service at his former church in 1986, said a house of worship is no place for firearms.

"A church is designated as a safe haven; it's a place of worship," said Phillips, who was shot by a church member's relative for an unknown reason and still has a bullet lodged in his spine. "It is unconscionable to me to think that a church would be a place that you would even want to bring a weapon."

Phillips spoke out against a bill before the Arkansas General Assembly that would have permitted guns in Arkansas churches. The bill failed in February.

Pagano, 50, said some members of his church were concerned that President Barack Obama's administration could restrict gun ownership, and they supported the plan for the celebration when Pagano asked their opinion.

Marian McClure Taylor, the executive director of the Kentucky Council of Churches, an umbrella organization for 11 Christian denominations in the state, said Christian churches are promoters of peace, but "most allow for arms to be taken up under certain conditions."

Taylor said Pagano assured her that the event would focus on promoting responsible gun ownership and that any proceeds would go to charity.

"Those two commitments are consistent with the high value the Assemblies of God churches place on human life," she said in an e-mail message.

Pagano is encouraging church members to bring a canned good and a friend to the celebration. He said the guns must be unloaded for insurance and safety reasons.

He said the point was not to mix worship with guns, although he may reference some passages from the Bible.

"Firearms can be evil and they can be useful," he said. "We're just trying to promote responsible gun ownership and gun safety." By DYLAN T. LOVAN Associated Press

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	Report Comment jhill, Tulsa (6/5/2009 7:42:48 AM) It's hard to believe that this story didn't originate in Oklahoma! We're falling behind!
	Report Comment 2ndjoyce, BA (6/5/2009 8:49:15 AM) We've absolutely lost our minds......
	Report Comment Graychin, Eucha (6/5/2009 9:06:22 AM) Praise the Lord. And pass the ammunition. jhill - you're right! We're falling behind in Oklahoma! Will we be trailing behind.... KENTUCKY? And Tennessee is allowing pistols in bars. Something for the Republican legislature to get started on for next year's session.
	Report Comment DonInTulsa, (6/5/2009 10:21:48 AM) Maybe they need the guns to shoot the snakes that got loose from the snake handling service at 9am.
	Report Comment Graychin, Eucha (6/5/2009 2:12:25 PM) I just figured out what is going on here. Remember during the campaign, when Obama mentioned people who are "clinging bitterly to their guns and religion"? This church is just trying to make it easier for them. Guns and religion - all in one stop!
	Report Comment zzx375, BA (6/5/2009 2:25:42 PM) "clinging bitterly to their guns and religion" Graychin, perhaps you can do what candidate Obama never did and explain the rationale behind this thinking. BTW, his real quote follows: "it's not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
	Report Comment Skeptic, Tulsa (6/5/2009 2:41:24 PM) I'll bet those good ol' AG people in Kentucky just want to cast out the demons in those guns so their aim at the "revenuers" will be better. I hear moonshine is still pretty big there.
	Report Comment vrcTulsa, Okmulgee (6/5/2009 3:46:11 PM) Hmm...why would someone want to carry a gun to church? This just sounds crazy to me. On another note, that pastor better have a really good sermon.
	Report Comment 52favoriteteacher, Washburn--used to be Broken Arrow (6/5/2009 4:02:06 PM) Check it out KC Baptist Temple runs an offering pushing 100K every Sunday a.m. You might not want to cause any trouble there because there is always and I mean always 25-30 men packing. These Missouri Tigers are not afraid, they are prepared whatever may come. Heck I remember one Sunday way back there we needed a shotgun. Dad was preaching at Zena Baptist and a rattler came crawling right on up the aisle. A deacon wisely grade a stick and gave him a new direction.
	Report Comment 52favoriteteacher, Washburn--used to be Broken Arrow (6/5/2009 4:05:36 PM) grade = grabbed
	Report Comment Missy,,M, no thanks (6/6/2009 12:50:45 AM) Insted of pow its pew ha?President Obama did say that people cling to there guns and religion.
	Report Comment rockfan, broken arrow (6/6/2009 1:40:12 AM) Insert Smith&Wesson somewhere between Matthew&John.
	Report Comment Eric, Tulsa (6/13/2009 10:12:05 AM) ... "WWJD?"??? No...I think the question is: WWJC (What Would Jesus Carry). An Uzi, maybe? ... .. .

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