I honestly don’t know who’s crazier here – the church having a “commitment ceremony” with AR-15s, or the elementary school freaking out and shutting its doors.
A church in Pennsylvania has thrown itself into the nationwide debate on gun laws by announcing they will be hosting a blessing ceremony for couples with an AR-15 assault rifle.
The controversial event is set to take place just two weeks after 17 peoplewere killed in a Florida high school by a gunman using the same weapon.
The World Peace and Unification Sanctuary in Newfoundland, Pennsylvania — an offshoot of the Unification Church — is inviting couples to bring their semi-automatic rifles to the church on Feb. 28 to “show their willingness to defend their families, communities and nation.”
Of course it’s Pennsylvania! Look, I have no problem with people owning AR-15s, they’re very fun to shoot, but having a church ceremony where the gun is a central part of the event seems… odd.
The local elementary school thought so too, so they’re running away:
On Friday, the superintendent of the Wallenpaupack Area School District wrote in a letter to parents that while “there is no direct threat to our school or community,” given concerns about parking, traffic and the “nature of the event,” students will be bused to schools about 15 miles away.
Superintendent Michael Silsby added there will be increased security at the school all week.
“We respect your decision if you choose to keep your children home for the day,” he wrote.
Very odd.
Apparently the guns will be checked to make sure they are not loaded, and then zip-tied before the ceremony. So it won’t end up like an Iraqi wedding with a bunch of yokels shooting into the sky in celebration. Unfortunately.