Virginia Senate passes controversial bill that would make it easier to bring guns into places of worship
- GOP-controlled Virginia Senate narrowly passed the bill on Thursday
- Supporters say houses of worship should set their own policies on weapons
- Critics fear that it make churches and other places of worship unsafe
The Virginia Senate has approved legislation that would make it easier to bring a gun to a place of worship.
The GOP-controlled Senate narrowly voted to support the legislation Thursday, passing the measure 21-19.
The bill would repeal a Virginia law that makes it a Class 4 misdemeanor to carry or conceal 'any gun, pistol, bowie knife, dagger or other dangerous weapon without sufficient reason, to a place of worship.'
The bill still has to pass the House and if it passes, it is likely to be vetoed by Democratic Governor Ralph Northam.
Supporters of the bill say it would make shootings like the one in Sutherland Springs, Texas (above) less likely by allowing congregations to defend themselves
Democrats say the bill would make places of worship unsafe.
Republicans say individual places of worship should be able to make their own decisions about whether to allow guns on site.
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'I believe Virginians have the right to protect themselves,' Republican Sen. Robert Black, who sponsored the bill, stated on his website.
'I support the right of competent, law abiding citizens to own arms to defend themselves and their families.'
The debate recalls President Donald Trump's assertion that armed guards might have stopped the October shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, where 11 died.
The most deadly shooting at a place of worship in U.S. history occurred at the at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas in November 2017. Twenty-six were killed.
The Gospel Coalition has estimated that the likelihood of any single U.S. congregation being involved in a shooting in a particular year is approximately one in 126,000, or 0.0000079 per cent.
