Armed on Hoosier church/school property

[Bobby]

I know we just had a topic on this. However, it was too general for my needs so I want to seek JimFloyd's thoughts(and everyone else who would like to chime in) on if it is legal or illegal to carry a gun on chuch/private school property here in Indiana.

The reason I ask is because I am getting ready to apply for my lifetime LTCH. I would very much like to carry on our church/private school property during non-school hours. I bought the book written by Bryan Ciyou at the last Indy 1500. When I explained my situation to Bryan's wife, she said I am in a "gray" area because of how strict Indiana interprets the word "school." Basically, she strongly discouraged me from carrying on Sundays just to be "safe" even though I would be doing so as a licensed individual.

Carrying on school property, public or private, is currently a big no-no. Carrying in church is legal from what I understand. Does anyone have any similar experiences to mine to where they are able to legally carry on church/school property?

JimFloyd made a recent post that made me wonder if licensed individuals acting as "security officers" working under church leadership approval would be allowed to carry on Sunday and Wednesday evenings. Jim, did the church you worked recently with have a private school? If you don't feel you are at liberty reveal even this much to me, would you share some of your thoughts for somebody in my situation at least as it relates to Indiana law?

Anyone else in a situation similar to mine who managed to resolve this issue one way or the other? This past weekend we had an event occur on our property that has made me evaluate church/school security as a whole. Since I serve as an usher on Sundays tasked with keeping an eye out for "suspicious" activity, it would be nice if I could legally arm myself. Anyone with insight feel free to either post here or PM me.

Thanks,
Bobby

 

[melensdad]

Yes you can carry on Church property IF the Church is a stand alone Church. If the Church is a Church & School then the School rules seem to apply.

Yes you can carry on School property UNDER VERY STRICT GUIDELINES. You stay in your car with your gun. You do not leave your car with your gun. You do not leave your car and leave your gun in your car. You have a child with you that you are either picking up or dropping off.

If you work at a School, or if you are on Church/school grounds, and if you have specific permission from the administrators, then it is my understanding that you can carry. So if you worked as an armed 'security officer' you'd be authorized. It should not matter if you are paid or volunteer. If you are a church usher and assigned the task of 'keeping and eye out' for trouble that does not sound like 'specific permission' to be armed.

This is my take, I am not a lawyer.

I would want to have specific authority from the highest ranking Priest, Deacon, Brother, Minister, etc. to have a gun on the property if it is a Church/School property.

 

[ChrisK]

"if you are on Church/school grounds, and if you have specific permission from the administrators, then it is my understanding that you can carry."

This statement is true. Where I go to church it is also a school and we ALL HAVE PERMISSION from the administrator to carry on the church/school property. If the administrators will give you WRITTEN PERMISSION then you are good to go.

 

[JimFloyd]

Yes you can carry on Church property IF the Church is a stand alone Church. If the Church is a Church & School then the School rules seem to apply.

Yes you can carry on School property UNDER VERY STRICT GUIDELINES. You stay in your car with your gun. You do not leave your car with your gun. You do not leave your car and leave your gun in your car. You have a child with you that you are either picking up or dropping off.

If you work at a School, or if you are on Church/school grounds, and if you have specific permission from the administrators, then it is my understanding that you can carry. So if you worked as an armed 'security officer' you'd be authorized. It should not matter if you are paid or volunteer. If you are a church usher and assigned the task of 'keeping and eye out' for trouble that does not sound like 'specific permission' to be armed.

This is my take, I am not a lawyer.

I would want to have specific authority from the highest ranking Priest, Deacon, Brother, Minister, etc. to have a gun on the property if it is a Church/School property.

I am also not an attorney, but this appears to be correct. You also must be careful about the "daycare" trap of "no firearms" that might be an issue in some churches as well (especially if they operated a licensed day care in the church).

Regards,

Jim

 

[wbjenks]

IANAL either yet; a "School" is a "School" 24/7. Our church has a Sunday school on Sunday and a pre school Monday-Friday. I am an ordained Minister. I have an Indiana License and am rather sure I am on thin ice when I carry as an authority at this Church. A very GRAY area. To be legal, don't carry. To be "safe" carry. Rev. Bill, B.A., M. Div. NRA Safety Officer

 

[Bobby]

Thanks to everyone for the taking the time to reply to my questions.

Bobby

 

[z56o2]

I'm sure this isn't 100% true for all churches, but in my experience members of most churches are the more conservative, gun rights advocate types. No one I know from church would have an issue with a responsible person carrying concealed. I suppose if something happened where you'd need to use your gun you run the risk of getting arrested in the aftermath. That been said, you may have just saved the lives of friends and family so I think we can agree it would be worth it. my

 

[AFA1CY]

This was discussed on another forum. Someone commented that it was close to treading on 1st amendment rights to say you can not carry just because a church has a "school".

 

[rhino]

This was discussed on another forum. Someone commented that it was close to treading on 1st amendment rights to say you can not carry just because a church has a "school".

I've been saying it's past "close" to treading since the situation was clarified to include private schools.

"Interesting" how the state can force removal of a monument from the courthouse because it depicts the Ten Commandments, yet the state has the gall to make claims about one cannot possess on church property because it has a school.

 

[Coach]

The state has always had plenty of gall, and usually loses no sleep about it. Someday when I have the time I would like to research and then write a book about when, how and why America went from being the land of the free to a fascist nation.

 

[JimFloyd]

The state has always had plenty of gall, and usually loses no sleep about it. Someday when I have the time I would like to research and then write a book about when, how and why America went from being the land of the free to a fascist nation.

It is true... fascism and socialism are alive and well in the world...

Regards,

Jim

 

[Coach]

It is true... fascism and socialism are alive and well in the world...

Regards,

Jim

They certainly are and many people here in the good ole USA seem to be in favor of moving further and further in that direction. Being tough and an individualist have certainly gone out of style.

Myself a I prefer Andrew Jackson types to the Franklin Roosevelt types.

I'll take an illiterate cowboy over an ivy league educated community organizer any time.

 

[rhino]

Clearly we as a country need to harden the f*** up.

The government was only able to take control because the concentration of pu**ies got too high.