WALB.com News, Weather and Sports for Albany, Valdosta and Thomasville. Leading the way for South Georgia. | Bring your gun to church?

Bring your gun to church?

By Alicia Eakin - bio | email

August 27, 2008

VALDOSTA, GA (WALB) - In July, it became legal people with pistol-toting licenses to take guns inside restaurants and on mass-transit.

Some state lawmakers now want people to be able to take their guns into more places.

Like Churches and schools. Two of the last places you'd expect to see anyone packing heat.

But next legislative session, some State lawmakers may push for a law to allow gun owners to take their weapons to church and on college campuses.

"Any measure relative to the use of guns in areas where historically guns haven't been allowed before, it's got to be approached very, very carefully," warns Senator Saxby Chambliss. "That's a state issue and one state legislatures are going to have to tread very carefully."

While it's still months from debate at the capitol, it's causing a lot of talk in the community.

"That just defeats the purpose of going to church. Why would you bring a gun to church? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard," says Valdosta resident Brandon Klunder.

"Guns on campus. That would be an outrage. Turn VSU into a negative college," says VSU Junior Horace Williams.

And will likely stir up more debate if it hit the state house and senate floor.