Items of Interest October 1, 2012 Issue

Religious groups divided on gun control, but united against guns in churches

Lauren Markoe

‘Poll: Religious groups divided on gun control, but united against guns in churches’
© 2012 Religion News Service. Used with permission. August 22, 2012

After the movie theater   massacre in Aurora, Colorado, and a deadly shooting at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, Americans are divided on gun control, and within certain religious groups, attitudes are far from ambivalent.

But on the question of guns in churches, there is actual consensus: A strong majority of Americans don’t want them in the pews, according to a new poll released Wednesday (August 15, 2012) by the Public Religion Research Institute, conducted in partnership with Religion News Service.

“Although the issue of gun control tends to divide Americans by party, gender, region, and race, there is broad agreement among the public that there are some places where concealed weapons should be off limits,” said Daniel Cox, PRRI’s research director.

More than three-quarters of respondents (76 percent) said concealed weapons should not be allowed in houses of worship, compared to 20 percent who disagreed. … 

Lauren Markoe

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