LAVONIA, GA (FOX Carolina) -
Many think of places of worship as sacred ground, and on Sundays, Sgt. Tony Tilley with the Anderson Police Department puts away his badge and answers to the title of reverend.
"In South Carolina the concealed weapons law does allow you to carry in a house of worship," Tilley said.
He's a pastor at Freedom Baptist Ministries in Anderson County, and while armed with scripture, he's also armed with a gun.
"I really don't feel right leaving home without it," he said.
But cross the state line into Georgia and it's illegal to have a gun in church even if you have a concealed weapons permit. So now, members with the group GeorgiaCarry.org along with the Central Georgia Church are suing the state. They said the law violates the Second Amendment and their religious rights.
"If you've got a permit, dadgum you ought to be able to go anywhere you want to go with it," said Richard Cole, a Lavonia resident.
Cole was attending Lavonia's night out festival on Thursday and while music played he took time to preach a little about guns in the church.
"I'm a lifetime member of the NRA and I believe in it till my dying day," Cole said.
Just as some at the festival would rather have a hot dog than a burger, opinions on the issue vary too.
"Most of us should not feel insecure in the house of worship," Andie Mathis said as she walked around the festival.
Mathis said no one should be packing in the pews.
"I think it would probably cause more problems which we've seen unfortunately in the past," she said.
No matter the outcome, many pray a decision is reached soon.
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