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What would you do? Fayetteville pastor: Man who carried gun into church was calmly disarmed.

1.1K views 12 replies 9 participants last post by  gunbelt  
#1 ·
I think about something like this in church every Sunday, sitting there with a 9mm in my pocket. In this case, the stranger's rifle was pointed up, and rifle magazine was in the strangers other hand.

http://www.wral.com/pastor-man-who-carried-gun-into-church-was-calmly-disarmed/15211105/

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - A Fayetteville city councilman says an armed stranger who walked into his church during a New Year's Eve service handed over his rifle and prayed with the pastor before police arrived.

The Fayetteville Observer reports that the unidentified man entered Heal the Land Outreach Ministries about 11:40 p.m. as City Councilman Larry Wright was delivering his sermon to about 60 people.

Wright says the man was carrying the rifle in one hand, pointed up, and an ammunition clip in the other.

The 57-year-old retired soldier says when he asked the man if he needed help, the stranger was calm. The man began crying and was invited to sit on the front pew.

Wright says police were planning to take the man to a mental health facility.
 
#2 ·
Sounds like he was looking for help, not mayhem. I wasn't there, but it sounds like this situation worked out well.

However, when an armed person approaches a peaceful assembly with gun raised and (almost?) ready, it is reasonable to assume his intentions are evil. Therefore, had someone shot this guy, it would have been justifiable. That's not to say it wouldn't have been sad.

So says the armchair QB...
 
#6 ·
Follow up to the story...
http://www.wral.com/exclusive-man-w...usive-man-who-brought-gun-to-fayetteville-church-returns-to-apologize/15212228/

"...the man responsible for the scare returned to the church- this time to apologize.

The man, who was just released from the hospital and asked not to be identified, said his wife was just diagnosed with a debilitating disease. They are struggling financially and the power had just been cut off at his home. On top of that, the veteran explained that he is struggling with PTSD, partly because he can't afford his medication.

He faces no charges in connection to the incident.

"[There was] financial stress. I haven't been on my medicine for a while," said the man.

"I saw in his eyes hopelessness, hurt, pain, despair," said Wright.

The man is also a convicted felon who was given a gun. He said he came to the church because he thought it would be a safe place to get rid of the weapon without getting in trouble..."
 
#7 ·
Sounds like a man pushed deep into a hole. Not the brightest steps, but not a time when thoughts are often clear. Kuddos to the Rev for showing courage in the face of uncertain danger and love for his fellow man.
 
#8 ·
Not sure how I feel about a convicted felon walking into a church armed with intent and not being charged with anything though...

I get he needs help, but he admitted he intended to shoot the place up, with an illegal firearm, and just because he broke down and cried instead, it's all Ok?

Hmmm...
 
#9 ·
I think it was a 1:1,000,000,000 that it ended up like that. IMO.

I'd drawn, sidearm at my side. Moving to an advantageous shooting spot, if he'd loaded the rifle, he bought the ticket... He'd get the ride. It may very well have escalated the situation, but, as unfortunate as it would have been (in hindsight, killing him) , you would have gotten the unbelievable advantage over the gunman, and again IMO, retarded not to take advantage of that.

If it would have went south, I'd felt horrible if one innocent would have been killed over my poor reaction.

And to quote " as the armchair QB"
 
#11 ·
Any church I ever attended several guns were always in plain sight. The staff always were bearing longarms. I guess if one of the staff didn't kill him they recognized him as one of our own.

Curt
 
#13 ·
Kingdom Ministries a Christian Identity Church is the short answer.