Democratic Senator Pushes Bill Aimed at Preventing Churches From Using Armed Security

Massachusetts Democratic Senator Ed Markey is pushing legislation that could prevent churches from protecting themselves with armed security. 

The bill, called the Preventing Private Military Act of 2024, is co-sponsored by Senator Laphonza Butler (D-CA).

The text of the bill prohibits “acting as part of or on behalf of a private paramilitary organization and armed with a firearm, explosive or incendiary device, or other dangerous weapon.”

Reported From Protestia:

A recent Lifeway survey of Protestant pastors shows that armed congregants protect more than 50% of protestant churches. While these security arrangements vary in their level of sophistication on a church-by-church basis, nearly the same number of pastors who report the use of armed congregants report that there is an intentional plan in place to prepare for threats posed by an active shooter. Though various state and local laws currently regulate and limit the use of concealed carry weapons by church security teams in various locale, a proposed federal law would criminalize the preparations made by many armed church security teams across the United States.