You may remember that last year the Foundation filed an amicus brief in the case Antonyuk v. James, defending the right of churches to determine their own internal policies in regard to whether its congregation may be armed in church.

Now, the case is back at the Supreme Court, and we are filing once again as amicus curiae in order to defend church autonomy as understood by our Founding Fathers when they ratified the First Amendment.

The painting above, Pilgrims Going to Church (1867), depicts an armed congregation—a practice dating back to the Pilgrims, who saw firearms as necessary for protection.

Today, however, gun control advocates threaten to impose their will on the Church. New York’s 2022 Concealed Carry Improvement Act (CCIA) bans firearms in churches, defying the Supreme Court’s ruling in NYSRPA v. Bruen (2022). This law violates both the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause by dictating church policy on firearms—an internal matter that should be left to religious institutions alone.

In our brief, the Foundation for Moral Law will reiterate that churches—not the state—must determine their own security policies. Whether a church chooses to allow or prohibit firearms, the Constitution protects that right.

Luke 11:21 states, “When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace.” Churches must have the freedom to decide the best way to safeguard their congregations.

We need your support! Join us in defending religious liberty and the Second Amendment Your contributions are crucial to this fight—help us stand for faith and freedom!