With state police and a smattering of protesters standing watch outside the church, brides clad in white and grooms in dark suits brought dozens of unloaded AR-15s into the church. An attendant checked each weapon at the door to make sure it was unloaded and secured with a zip tie. Many used the ceremony as an opportunity to renew their wedding vows.
Worshippers at the church think the AR-15,which could soon be banned from sale, represents the ‘rod of iron’ mentioned in the book of Revelation. AR-15s were used in notorious massacres including the Sandy Hook Elementary School and Las Vegas shootings. The Reverend Sean Moon, who leads the church, prayed for ‘a kingdom of peace police and peace militia where the citizens, through the right given to them by almighty God to keep and bear arms, will be able to protect one another and protect human flourishing.’ Wallenpaupack Elementary School, from the nearby, cancelled classes because of the ‘nature of the event’,coming exactly two weeks after an AR-15 was used to kill 17 at a school in Florida. The school bussed students to other locations.
