Currently moving through the Mississippi legislature, the Mississippi Church Protection Act would allow churches to designate armed security guards within their congregations, and these security guards would be afforded certain protections in potential legal or criminal cases. The bill would also grant Mississippi citizens with weapons permits the right to concealed carry. Last Tuesday, the state senate approved the bill with a vote of 36 to 14 and sent it along to the Mississippi House, according to a March 30 Washington Post article. What do you think of the Church Protection Act, and how do you think it will impact gun violence in Mississippi?

Tamar Lieberman ’19

In the wake of the 2015 shooting in a predominately black church in Charleston, S.C. that killed nine people, and of three fires set on black churches in the South in the same year, it is understandable that Mississippi would create a law hoping to address mass shootings, especially in churches. But the answer is not to create more opportunities for gun violence. Allowing more guns, more concealed carry and more protection for gun users may ironically hurt black people the most. An armed church member searching for any “suspicious-looking” person will use his instantaneous judgment and preconceived stereotypes, which may easily lead to a fatal mistake, all at the expense of groups of people who are targeted most often by gun violence. And disaster will ensue in Mississippi if church members who, after minimal training and no experience as a security guard, volunteer to carry their guns into church, and are thereby automatically granted immunity for their actions. To prevent unnecessary deaths, people who shoot need to fear shooting and to fully face the consequences of deciding to pull the trigger.

Tamar Lieberman ’19 is a member of the Brandeis University Mock Trial Association.

Joseph Castro ’19

There is nothing wrong with the Church Protection Act in itself, everyone who obtains a gun should be able to carry it on their person at all times. This God-given right to bear arms is granted to us by America’s favorite amendment, the Second Amendment. A church, if it feels threatened, has a right to hire a security team to provide safety to churchgoers. The recent shooting in Charleston, S.C., showed that the church is not a violence-free sanctuary and that the church needs to be able to protect itself by any means possible, including force. Sadly, the Church Protection Act will be abused, and this will lead to even more gun deaths in the state of Mississippi. Mississippi currently has the second-highest rate of gun deaths in the nation, and if this law passes, it will most likely skyrocket to number one in the nation.

Joseph Castro ’19 is a veteran of the United States Navy.

Catherine Rosch ’16

I fundamentally oppose this legislation in Mississippi because I do not believe that it will make the people of Mississippi safer. Gun-related legislation is among the most contentious in the United States, as it ties into an ongoing Constitutional debate about the Second Amendment and how and if guns should be regulated. Even with a strict interpretation of the Second Amendment, nowhere is there a guaranteed right to bear arms for any purpose other than to maintain a “well-regulated militia” and protect the United States. I hardly see how bringing a concealed gun into a church protects the United States. Additionally, I am very concerned that this legislation will increase, rather than decrease, gun violence. While it is unfortunate that any place of worship needs armed security guards, I understand that some religious groups, especially those that are more likely to face harassment and violence, believe that they do need this extra protection. However, I do not believe that the general public should be able to bring concealed weapons into houses of worship, and I hope this legislation includes an opt-out clause for groups that do not want the danger of guns on their premises.

Catherine Rosch ’16 is the president of Brandeis Democrats, and she majors in history and politics. She is also an associate editor and columnist for the Justice.

Rachel Gifeisman ’19

Many hoped the Charleston, S.C., shooting would create discourse about racism in America. Instead, a bill decreasing gun control was passed. Not only is the policy likely to increase gun violence by increasing the number of people out with concealed weapons, it also draws problematic distinctions between churches and other institutions. There is no reason that churches should be valued above schools, supermarkets or any other public space that wouldn’t seem to violate the establishment clause, and even now, the bill seems to dangerously approach territory where the Mississippi legislature is valuing Christianity above other religions. Conservatives are quick to jump on the bill when the noun is “church,” but what happens when a mosque puts it into action? More problematically, it’s unlikely that the bill would actually protect anyone. It only raises the amount of paranoia in a church, making someone more likely to pull out their gun when it’s not necessary. In areas with more hate crimes, it’s more likely that the gun will be pointed at a member of a minority group.

Rachel Gifeisman ’19 is a member of the Brandeis Academic Debate and Speech Society.