Brent Johnson reports for NJ.com:


A Republican state lawmaker wants to make sure all New Jersey churches, synagogues, and mosques have someone with a gun on hand to protect congregants.


Assemblyman Ron Dancer, R-Monmouth, has introduced legislation that would allow the state’s places of worship to select a “qualified person” to carry a concealed handgun during services. 


“Especially in this era, places of worship are a terrorist target,” Dancer told NJ Advance Media on Thursday. “These are worshipers. They’re praying. They’re totally defenseless.”


Whether the bill will get far in the Democratic-controlled state Legislature is another story. 


State Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, was shocked when he heard about the measure Thursday.


“Oh my god,” Sweeney said. “You’re kidding me. The philosophy ‘if everyone has a gun, we’re safer’ is not a good philosophy. … Will they give guns to high school kids now?”


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What you you think. Would you feel safer at a religious service attended by a fellow worshiper who carried a concealed weapon?  Do the potential advantages outweigh the risks? What would be lost or gained were this bill to become law? Use the comment box below or leave your comment on our Facebook page.