Guns In Church For Self-Defense OK'd By Virginia Attorney General

Virginia's Attorney General last week issued an opinion (full text) concluding that under state law is is permissible for a citizen to carry firearms into a place of worship for personal safety purposes. Section 18.2-283 of the Virginia Code outlaws carrying firearms to a place of worship while a meeting for religious purposes is being held  only if done so "without good and sufficient reason." Self-defense and personal safety constitute "good and sufficient reason" under the statute according to the AG's Opinion. However, the Opinion also makes it clear that: "Churches, synagogues, mosques and other religious entities can, like any other owner of property, restrict or ban the carrying of weapons onto their private property." [Thanks to First Amendment Law Prof Blog via Volokh Conspiracy for the lead.]