Sitting Duck Policy

An LDS Church policy, and Utah State Law, put clergy and congregation members at risk.

The policy, read in the form of a letter from the First-Presidency from pulpits across the country, asks that all members leave personal-defense weapons (specifically “guns”) at home. That “sitting duck” policy effectively advertised to the public that LDS houses of worship are “safe-zones” in which criminals can easily carry out their illegal acts.

In Utah, the LDS church asked for legislation to exempt “houses of worship” from places persons with permits to carry concealed firearms for self-defense are allowed to carry. The State Legislature added a requirement to the law that churches who intended to make their properties “sitting duck zones” notify both the public and the Department of Public Safety. To date, the LDS church is the only church who has done so.

The failure of these types of policies was illustrated recently in Visalaia, California where a former member of the LDS church (sometimes referred to as the “Mormon” church) entered an LDS house of worship and killed a bishop simply for the fact that he was a leader in the church.

The Utah Law doesn’t apply to California houses of worship, but the LDS policy making all houses of worship “sitting duck” zones does. If the LDS church didn’t have this policy this criminal may have reconsidered carrying out his violent plans. If a law-abiding member of the congregation had been exercising his or her Second Amendment Right (perhaps the bishop himself), this member of the LDS clergy might still be with us today.

We call on the leadership of the LDS church to retract their “sitting duck policy” and notify the Utah DPS that they no longer prohibit law-abiding citizens from carrying tools for self-defense. Additionally, we ask that the LDS church suggest to all of its clergy that they take whatever actions they personally feel appropriate to ensure their own safety, as well as allow congregation members to provide for their own personal safety while in or around LDS houses or worship.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com