Churches in Virginia may want to consider implementing their own bans on weapons if they want to keep them out of religious services, because if you feel the need to arm yourself for protection while you worship, Virginia shouldn't stop you, according to Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.
A commonwealth law prohibits carrying weapons in places of worship during religious meetings without "good and sufficient reason." In an opinion written Friday, Cuccinelli said self-defense qualifies, The Washington Post reported.
"The right of self-defense lies at the heart of the right to keep and bear arms," Cuccinelli wrote.
However, the Second Amendment doesn't interfere with institutions establishing their own bans on weapons on their private property. If a church doesn't want guns inside, it's the church's right to implement such a ban.
From The Post:
The legal opinion comes in response to an inquiry from state Del. Mark Cole (R-Fredericksburg), who had sponsored an unsuccessful bill in 2010 to make it legal for a concealed weapons permit holder to carry a handgun in a place of worship during religious services with the permission of a religious leader.
The law makes taking a gun, knife or other deadly weapon into a worship service without reason a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $250.
Cole's was the third inquiry from a legislator about the law in the past year.
The attorney general's opinion is merely an advisory and is in line with Republicans' efforts to make guns legal in more places since Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell took office. Last year, lawmakers overturned a ban on concealed weapons in places that serve alcohol.
