By CAL Staff
Christian Action League
June 18, 2021
Friday, Governor Roy Cooper vetoed SB 43 – Protect Religious Meeting Places.
S.B. 43 would allow concealed carry of guns during worship services at churches where a private school is also housed. Currently, churches in these circumstances are not allowed concealed carry and prohibited from developing their own armed security teams.
The measure passed in the Senate 30-19 and the House 70-38.
Cooper said his reason for vetoing the bill was “For the safety of students and teachers, North Carolina should keep guns off school grounds.”
On behalf of numerous churches across the state, Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League, lobbied lawmakers for the passage of SB 43. Rev. Creech responded with the following statement:
“The legislation the Governor vetoed provided a simple carve-out in the law for churches associated with private Christian schools. This is the second time he has vetoed such legislation. His expressed concerns for rejecting the measure, however, were respected and addressed in this bill. His veto is, therefore, simply unreasonable.
“It is quite cost-prohibitive for many of the churches associated with private Christian schools to afford to hire off-duty police officers. Without this legislation, these churches are vulnerable to some crazed soul who might walk in and want to start shooting. The threat is real and urgent!
“The Governor’s veto makes me wonder how long it’s been since he’s been to church. Surely he understands there are teachers and students in our Sunday School classes. Other churches are allowed to protect their teachers and students in Sunday Schools, but not churches connected with schools. It makes no sense.
“Is there some personal animus by the Governor toward private Christian education? Or is he operating entirely as a liberal ideologue against it? Because he has now made it abundantly clear, if a church chooses to provide a Christian education to its community, it will not be allowed to defend itself against persons with murderous intent. That will undoubtedly work to quash any growth of church-sponsored schools.
“What about the women, the elderly, and the little ones in the worship services of these churches? Aren’t they as important to protect as the students and teachers in school?
“If there is a mass shooting at one of these churches, God forbid, I suggest the Governor not attend the funeral. He may not be welcome because the blood of the slain will be on his hands.
“Perhaps our state lawmakers might be more reasonable on this issue. Whether Republican or Democrat, a vote for a veto-override is not only appropriate but desperately needed.”
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