Georgia State Rep. Jay Neal, of LaFayetteGeorgia state Rep. Jay Neal, R-LaFayette, plans to preach Sunday at his church in Ringgold, Ga., which is something he does about half a dozen times each year.
In the not-too-distant future, Neal hopes Georgia churchgoers with concealed weapons permits will be able to bring their guns to a Sunday service — something state law now forbids.
That would make congregations less vulnerable to attack by someone intent on stealing the offering or taking revenge on an estranged family member, he said.
“I think it’s important for a church to be able to have that opportunity … to say ‘we want to have some defense here,'” Neal said.
Neal wrote legislation to allow guns in Georgia churches that was added to a bill that passed the house Thursday in a 117-56 vote. House Bill 512, the Safe Carry Protection Act, would allow Georgians to carry guns in more places, including churches, bars, government buildings and parts of public college campuses.