Churches resist signing gun ban

More than two dozen religious leaders reiterated their stand Sunday: They will not register their houses of worship with the state as places where guns are banned — but neither will they allow guns to be brought into their buildings.

During a Sunday press conference at All Saints Episcopal Church, 1710 Foothill Drive, the leaders issued a joint written statement noting: "Guns have no place in holy spaces. We do not need the state of Utah to give us permission to make such a statement or hold such a position."

Some of those present considered their stance to be a matter of civil disobedience, defying a state law, while others say they are merely standing up for a law that has precedence over the state rule, the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, said the Rev. Dan Webster of the Paul Jones Chapter Episcopal Peace Fellowship in Salt Lake City.

Gov. Olene Walker, contacted late Sunday, said, "I respect the individual's right to bear arms. However, I've never seen what good a gun can do in a place of worship."

She added, that decision is up to the individual religious leaders. Walker's position was relayed by spokeswoman Amanda Covington.

A reading of the law involved — posted as Statute 76-10-530 — allows the religious institution to register if it wants the state to enforce a ban on guns in that house of worship, but it does not mandate the church to take any action.

The statute appears to require registration, however, if members of a house of worship want to prohibit firearms from being brought into the building, including those belonging to holders of state-issued conceal carry gun permits.

The leaders insisted the registration requirement intrudes on their rights to govern how people conduct themselves in their houses of worship. They want the right to ban guns themselves, without registering with the state.

The state law is in conflict with freedom of religion and possibly with private property rights under the U.S. Constitution, they said.

The First Amendment "gives us the right to do with our church property what we will," and not allow people to carry guns inside a religious sanctuary, Webster said after the press conference.

Many of the leaders protesting registration "find that law offensive," he said. They feel it is "essentially requiring us to register with the state of Utah to do good."