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An "Open Carry Celebration" to promote responsible gun ownership and firearm safety. Saturday, June 27th 2009 @ 5pm

This event is to celebrate the birth of our nation. It is open to any and all who cherish 2nd amendment and 1st amendment rights given to us in our constitution. A person does not have to be a member of our church nor even be a believer in God to attend. It is open to any religious, racial or ethnic group. It matters not what your political or personal preference may be. One need not own nor wear a firearm to attend. If you support 2nd and 1st Amendment rights, you are welcome.

Our specific objective is to promote responsible gun ownership and firearms safety. At the same time we would like to see more responsible “non-gun ownership.” Firearms education is necessary in order to alleviate unwarranted fears of guns in general. Firearms are inanimate objects incapable of acting independently of human influence. Guns merely carry out the bidding of those who wield them. For a majority of legal firearms owners a gun is a means of recreational enjoyment. In the hands of others they are a means of life and liberty. Providentially we are privileged to be Americans. We as individuals and collectively as a nation are not here by accident or chance but rather by divine appointment. America was founded upon a deep-seated belief in God and the freedom to own and bear firearms without which this country would not be here today. We are not ashamed of this historical fact nor are we ashamed to proclaim it. We see no inherent contradiction between a devout belief in God and a desire to keep and bear arms.

The Christian faith we profess is of a Protestant, Evangelical heritage. As a Church body, one of our mission statements is to proclaim the gospel. The message is unchanged. The methods of proclaiming the message are in continual flux. We must adapt, improvise and overcome accordingly.

If one studies history they will find that not all Christians, or Christian denominations are pacifists. Christian pacifism is an option, not a requirement. In fact there may be times when being non-pacifistic is a Christian duty.

Gun ownership is not part of the gospel message. The gospel message is Jesus Christ, His life, death, burial and resurrection. He came to reconcile sinners unto God. One is saved by faith alone through grace alone by Christ alone. Gun ownership falls under the scope of Christian liberty. One may either choose to own or not own a firearm. But as soon as someone yells “foul” or that this event or activity is not something that one may do as a Christian, the matter now becomes inextricably linked with the gospel. We believe that a person can neither add to nor take away from their justification by Christ. It is a matter of Christian liberty that flows directly from one’s justification in Christ. The gospel makes Christian liberty an issue that must be exercised in the face of legalism.

Open Carry Celebration Click to Enlarge

To ensure safety for everyone:

  1. Openly carried handguns must follow "cold range" rules.
    2. a. Cold Range
    • Handguns must be cased or remain in holster, magazine removed. Unless in a designated safety area. (All guns will be inspected.)
    • Handguns must be carried with the "Hammer/Striker Down."
    b. Designated Safety Areas
    • The Safety Areas will be clearly marked with signs.
    • Unloaded firearms may be handled and/or displayed only in the Safety Areas.
    • No ammunition may be handled in any Safety Area.

  2. Legally certified Carry Concealed Deadly Weapons (CCDW) holders might act accordingly as prescribed by Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS 237.110)

  3. The handgun to be given away is not owned by the Church. All monies to supply the handgun will be coming directly from those who donate money towards this event. The handgun will pass directly from a certified dealer to the winning individual. The individual must be a Kentucky resident or a legal out of state resident that will have to follow all laws concerning interstate transfers.
    4. a. All State and Federal laws apply.
    b. A National Instant Criminal Background Check System or NICS will be performed.

  4. Monies received in excess of the cost of the handgun will be given to a local charity and/or charitable foundations outside of the Church.

  5. To further promote our goal of promoting safe and responsible firearms ownership, A Kentucky winner will receive a voucher for a FREE CCDW class valued at $75.00.

  6. No celebration attendees shall consume or be under the influence of alcohol or non-prescription drugs at the event site. Any participant found to be impaired, will be requested to leave.

  7. Official and Private security personal will be in attendance.
When someone says, "What would Jesus do?" we reply, "What did Jesus say?" Since we believe the Bible is God’s written Word to us, what Jesus may do must be drawn from the truth of Scripture. Scripture must interpret Scripture in order to remove one’s own subjective thoughts and/or feelings concerning texts. We believe that there is no Scriptural contradiction in this event. We believe there is only one document that has inherent power to change lives, and that document is the Bible. All other documents are just ink on paper and men in power make policy that is carried out by men with guns. So we promote the Bible, which changes men lives. And we promote responsible gun ownership to protect a person’s political freedom and if need be, their very life. We believe that one day Christ will establish His physical kingdom upon this earth at which time, “swords will be beaten into plowshares.” But until that time we also believe that those who only live by the plowshare will always be slaves to those who possess the sword.

This event is not taking place on the Lord’s Day. This is not a Church worship service, where the focus is on Jesus and our responsibility to Him. Rather, this is merely a Church hosted event, similar to any other event that any other Church may do to celebrate their heritage. It would be our hope to see this event become a nationally celebrated, annual occurrence on the last weekend of June.

We recognize that some will disagree with us about this event, and we respect their right to do so. Yet, in the words of one of the greatest theologians ever to come from the Christian faith: "To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible." --St. Thomas Aquinas.

New Bethel Church

All Visitors to New Bethel Church Property enter at their own risk. New Bethel Church will not be held responsible for injuries to you or damage to your personal property.