Broken Arrow Lawmaker Wants To Legalize Guns In Church

Joshua Brakhage, News On 6

Would you pack your pistol to church? A Broken Arrow lawmaker wants to give Oklahomans the right to defend themselves, if necessary.

Imam Imad Enchassi says his Oklahoma mosque has been a target over the years.

"We have definitely had our share of threatening phone calls and threatening e-mails," Enchassi said.

Pastor Paul Blair got death threats when he opposed adding sexual orientation to the Edmond's city anti-discrimination policy.

"I certainly want to make sure that our church members are able to protect themselves when they come to worship on Sunday morning," Blair said.

Broken Arrow representative Mike Ritze says protecting places of worship from violence is paramount. He's pushing a "Make My Day" law allowing people to use deadly force in places of worship.

"They don't have to do it, we are not mandating it. It just recognizes the right that they can do it just like they can do in their homes, or vehicles, and businesses," Ritze

Ritze points to the 2009 murder of a pastor in Anadarko. The same year, a Kansas doctor was shot and killed in his Wichita church.

Neither Pastor Blair nor Imam Enchassi fear the threat of violence but say safety is imperative.

"As long as there is a threat to a person`s person or property, then people have the constitutional right to be able to protect themselves," Pastor Paul Blair said.

Oklahoma's "Make My Day" and "Stand Your Ground" laws already allow citizens to defend themselves in their homes, cars and workplaces.