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Joe, I am not aiming this at you personally, and you may be 100% correct... Are you absolutely sure that it is indeed illegal to carry in church by an otherwise legally permitted individual? I ask this only because the anti-gunners helped perpetuate this myth in Tennessee after we gained permitted carry. I have spent years trying to explain to fellow Tennesseans that this is not state law as they have been lead to believe. I am not sure of the old legal terminology, but it harkens back to the olden days when men of the church were required to remove their swords in the foyer of the church... The real reason was not because they feared weapons in the church, but that swords were too cumbersome when it came down to different physical aspects of the worship service: standing, then sitting, standing again, kneeling for communion, standing yet again, etc.

I learned this from my B-n-L (with a master's degree from Vanderbilt) historian that has a special interest in weapons and the laws that accompanied them. He is like a walking encyclopaedia of ancient weapons and laws... He can share some amazing stories on dueling in America (the subject of one of his many papers written) in the 18th and 19th centuries, including one duel that went on for hours because of the poor marksmanship qualities of the duelists. They actually had to send back to town for more powder and bullets!

I am just hoping that maybe the folks in Michigan can indeed carry in church. There in no intention on my part to come across as saying "No, Joe, you're wrong!"

Regards,
Raven6

Keep in mind that I live in Ohio, not Michigan. However, I have children in Michigan, so visit there often. Still, I'm not up on all the details of Michigan law.

I do know that Michigan law prohibits carrying in a church, even if you have a permit. However, I'm told that if you have the permission of the pastor, it's OK. I haven't attempted to verify that by looking up the law. I suggest anyone living in Michigan check the law.

In Ohio, the law prohibits carry in church, unless you have the permission of the pastor. Unfortunately, the bishop of the Cincinnati diocese has forbidden all pastors to give that permission. So in the Cincinnati diocese, carry in church is illegal. I know people who carry anyway, but strictly speaking, they're in violation of the law.