History Main / GunsInChurch

* Averted in ''VideoGame/Postal2''. Waving any kind of weapon around will scare people away and/or alert the police. The "E" key allows you to holster your weapon.
** Just wait until you get to the ACTUAL church! Islamic terrorists decide to attack the place, Catholic priests grab guns to fight back and you're stuck in the middle of it. No doubt you will have to pull your own gun out just to get out of here alive.

* In the otherwise forgettable video game for ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'', Qui-Gon could not draw his lightsaber in Mos Eisley without putting the whole town on alert.
** The shopkeepers would also comment on you having your lightsaber out.

* Plenty of players in a wide range of RPG games will take it for granted that they can carry their swords/bows/guns/staffs of power anywhere without hindrance, including bars, temples, and audiences with the king. Just have an NPC ask them to leave their weapons behind, and they'll react with fear, suspicion and outrage. (It probably doesn't help that many game world writeups ''do'' seem to establish that the more restrictive a given place's rules on weapons are, the more hostile it will be to player characters -- perpetuating the stereotype that they don't create it in the first place.) Then they'll usually try to conceal the weapons somehow or develop elaborate tactics to reach their weapons just in case the pacifistic church where no one is allowed to carry a weapon happens to be full of armed soldiers. This desperation to avoid separation from their most beloved possessions often turns out to be justified, since so many game masters will be unable to pass up the chance to catch the player characters at less than their min/maxed best. This is unfortunate since these times are almost the only occasions in a tabletop game where the players will not emulate LeeRoyJenkins when they encounter VillainsOutShopping, GoKartingWithBowser, or DidYouJustHaveTeaWithCthulhu.

* A very literal and justified example in ''VideoGame/BlueArchive''. All students of Trinity’s church-going Sisterhood wield guns. Hinata in particular not only uses a handgun, but also carries a huge suitcase packing a mounted grenade launcher she busts out in her EX Skill.

-->'''Hierophant Callister:''' Commissar! This is a house of the Emperor!
-->'''Cain:''' Then I'm sure He'd approve of us keeping it safe.

[[folder:Real Life]]
* According to [[http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-05-05-nuclear-football_x.htm this USA Today article]], the nuclear football once entered St. John's Church.
* Europeans seem to think that this is the [[EagleLand norm everywhere in America]].
** Most Westerns would have you believe this was the case in the wild west. In reality, many towns at the time had ordinances requiring you to turn your guns over at a saloon or livery while you were in town. This was one of the things that led up to the shootout between the Earps and the Clantons and [=McLaurys=] at the O.K. Corral since the former were attempting to disarm the latter.
** In most States in the US, it is legal to walk around wearing guns openly, but there are variations in both law and practice that a wise man would do well to familiarize himself with. Additionally, just because it's legal doesn't mean that some random citizen won't freak out at the mere sight of a firearm, or that you won't have occasional conversations with law enforcement while they try to determine if you are going to cause a problem. Private property owners also have the right to forbid weapons on their property.
*** In the state of Pennsylvania, it is actually legal for you to carry most sorts of weapons as long as they are not concealed, and you are not brandishing them. You need to get a special license to carry concealed. The exception to that is within [[UsefulNotes/{{Philadelphia}} the City of Philadelphia]] where, unless you are a law enforcement officer, you basically need a concealed carry permit to have the gun in your possession outside of your property.
*** Kansas takes this even further: It is legal for anyone except convicted felons to carry concealed weapons, with or without a license. Not that very many people actually do.
*** In Germany you need a special permit to carry a concealed weapon, more special than the permit for carrying a weapon.
** A lot of people seem to think this is the case in [[EverythingIsBigInTexas Texas]]. It's true that Texas gun laws are not strict when it comes to the purchasing and possession of firearms for an ordinary citizen who is not a convicted felon, but there are limitations on where you can carry, even if you have a concealed handgun license. The most obvious is any location that properly posts "30.06 signage" which is explicit notice that carry of concealed handguns is prohibited on the premises and will constitute a specific trespass offense (Tresspass by a License Holder) with significant penalties (much more serious than simple trespass).
*** Texas law as of August 2015 forbids the carrying of an openly displayed handgun (though longarms such as rifles and shotguns have no restrictions) in public places except during specific activities such as shooting at a range, hunting, or when traveling. If you want to carry a handgun, publicly (as a private citizen) in Texas, you need a Concealed Handgun License and the firearm must not be in plain sight. On the other hand, carrying openly in Kentucky is likely to get attention only in the most metropolitan areas and even then police will just politely ask the carrier not to carry openly if possible due to the risk of an alarmed citizen wasting police time with a report of a "man with a gun".
*** Churches were initially one of the places specifically mentioned by Texas state law as off limits for concealed carry, along with hospitals and some other locations but this is no longer the case and they must post specific signage like any other property to explicitly forbid carry there. In an odd showing of non-hypocritical governance, the Texas capitol is a permitted location, along with any government-owned property (state or local government) and at the capitol, the fastest way to enter is by approaching the security and showing a CHL (Concealed Handgun License), whereupon you will be waved past the metal detectors and allowed to proceed freely whilst still armed.
*** A group of Black Panthers led by Bobby Seale once carried assault rifles right into the California state capitol building. This was done to protest a bill submitted in the state assembly to outlaw open carrying of firearms (as they had done while patrolling black neighborhoods to protect people from police brutality, resulting in shootouts at times). It passed, and UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan, then Governor of California ([[{{Irony}} later so pro-gun he wouldn't even support restrictions proposed after he himself was shot]]) signed it into law. In certain areas of Massachusetts, there are artifact laws requiring you to bring a gun to church (Danvers and Salem), which were passed in colonial times, when it was quite possible that people might need to protect themselves from hostile natives attacking during the sermon.
** Played straight in a Colorado church in 2007, when two people carrying Guns In Church prevented a third (who had apparently chained the other doors shut and was in the only available escape path) from turning the house of worship into an abattoir.
** Ironically, there are a few places in Europe where this approaches the truth - In Switzerland, you may sometimes find men doing their military service traveling by train and carrying their (unloaded) battle rifles with them. Civilians doing rifle shooting might also carry their rifles with them to the range. Still, you won't generally find anyone carrying guns publicly unless it's for the two reasons mentioned (policemen and border guards excepted).
* There's a joke about how Israel is the safest country in the world because it's the only place where a group of young men can walk into a bank carrying guns and be expected to wait in line (soldiers carry their guns with them when on leave). Though Israeli soldiers, like their Swiss counterparts, are not allowed to have their weapons loaded unless they're either at the range or in battle, the considerably higher odds of the latter situation happening in Israel means that they typically carry their assault rifles "unloaded" by simply having the fully-loaded magazine strapped to the side of the rifle instead of inserted into the magazine well. Thus, the "unloaded" rifle is still ready for action within a matter of seconds.
* TruthInTelevision. While churches have a very long history of being sanctuaries where you're not permitted to bring a holstered and concealed weapon, there have been cases of police officers interrupting mass or sermons ''with drawn guns'' and not understanding what people are so upset about. The exact phrase used for this sort of situation (at least in Texas) is ".22s for Jesus". Of course we all know that the Lord would prefer to [[Manga/BlackLagoon use a Jericho]], but that gets into a completely different debate altogether.
* ''Very'' much averted in Scandinavia, where taking ''any'' kind of weapon - even a knife - to church is considered a sacrilege. ''Even today''. Many Medieval churches had a separate "weapons room" where weapons were to be left before entering the church.
* The Pazzi Conspiracy, in which members of the Pazzi family attempted to assassinate Lorenzo de’Medici and assume control of Florence. You’d think that carrying out a politically-motivated assassination, in a church full of witnesses, ''in the middle of Mass'', would be sacrilegious eight ways to Sunday. Yet due to a series of previous disputes, the Pope had unofficially endorsed the removal of the Medici from power by any means necessary. Lorenzo survived, the conspiracy was halted and the perpetrators executed, which caused the Pope to excommunicate Lorenzo and place Florence under an indirect (forbidding Mass and communion). When the holiest man in Christendom endorses a killing - even unofficially - and punishes the survivor for doing the same thing to his attackers, it makes one wonder how deep the rot truly goes.
* TruthInTelevision in much of the US, where concealed weapons permits are easy to obtain. May not count as this trope since they're concealed.
** And even those can be banned from certain places, such as schools, government buildings, and some private businesses. Interestingly enough, many gun shops in the US (which often contain an attached shooting range and offer gunsmith services so you can get your weapon fixed) will have a strict rule concerning concealed or holstered weapons: They STAY that way while you are in the store. If you want to have the gunsmith look at the weapon, or if you want to use the shooting range, you walk in with the weapon out where they can see it. And unloaded, until you actually ''step in'' to the shooting range. This way [[FridgeBrilliance you pulling the weapon out won't be misconstrued as you drawing a gun to rob the place or shoot someone.]]
** Gun shop carry rules are also often in place to prevent incidents of unwanted discharge in the "trying out holsters" situation (holsters come in all manner of designs to accommodate differing body types and carry positions. Quality holsters can be expensive, and carrying a 4lb chunk of metal on your body in a poorly-fitting holster can be very uncomfortable, making "try before you buy" a good idea in holster selection if you're not independently wealthy). And yes, there ''have'' been cases where a guy walked into a gun store (with customers in there) [[TooDumbToLive and tried to rob it]]. Even funnier in the RealLife version of the story: The robber had to ''walk past a police car'' to get to the gun shop. He was promptly ventilated.
** Post Reconstruction Era, most states allowed the carry of arms so long as they were not concealed (usually this is a Felony offense) and especially when properly slung or holstered. It must be remembered, however, that Federal law largely entirely prohibits the possession and carry of firearms on Federal property, including Post Offices, no matter what state they are located in.
** It should also be noted that most states have separate laws for handguns and long guns. For example, in Michigan, a license must be obtained to carry a concealed handgun, but no permit is needed to carry it in the open. It's perfectly legal to carry around a rifle or shotgun without a license, so long as it's not in or on a motor vehicle (due to hunting from vehicles being prohibited). If you want to carry in a church, synagogue, mosque, etc., you need the concealed carry permit along with the permission of the person in charge of the house of worship. Michigan also happens to be one of the few states that require law-enforcement personnel to carry their sidearms even when off duty, ''except'' in church.
* Despite being under Norwegian sovereignty, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svalbard Svalbard]] allows everyone to carry rifles openly (although there are some rules on how to carry them in populated areas). Why? Because of [[BearsAreBadNews Polar Bears.]]
* Averted in the UK, where firearms, especially handguns, are tightly regulated and largely unavailable to private citizens (except for shotguns which require a small fee and some paperwork, followed by an inspection of proposed storage). Thus when a French police officer working in St Pancras station for the international customs office (they have French officers on the British side and vice-versa) forgot to take her gun out of her holster, before walking across to the non-international section of the station to buy lunch, she got in ''serious'' trouble.
* Swords served a dual purpose in Medieval Europe: In addition to weapons, they were also a makeshift crucifix. It was not that uncommon for a knight to enter a place of worship and use it as such, or in some other peaceful, humble way.
* A subfaction of pro-gun proponents advocate militantly open-carrying wherever it's legal to do so, a practice that is controversial even within the pro-gun community, depending on the intent and exactly what weapons are carried / how they are carried. Even most gun enthusiasts consider buying groceries while wearing a modern semi-automatic rifle to be gauche but few would bat an eyelid at the notion of shopping while wearing a holstered pistol.
* In communities in the Canadian Arctic it isn't impossible to see someone walking into the local store with a slung rifle to pick up something before they head out on to the land, although it's generally considered to be rude. On the other hand, seeing people driving down the street on an ATV or a snowmobile carrying a rifle or shotgun is extremely common. It actually became a security issue when G8 Finance Ministers were meeting in Iqaluit and southern security personnel had to be briefed in advance to make sure that they didn't shoot an elder puttering along down the street heading out to his cabin.
* There are some places in [[EagleLand the States]] where guns are allowed in ''bars''.
** In Ohio, for example, you can carry in the bar but have committed a serious felony if you touch so much as a drop of alcohol.
** In Texas businesses that serve alcohol for consumption on the premises are either "red" (AKA "51%") license or "blue" license and generally known as "bars" and "restaurants respectively. The former are those which make 51% or more of their profit from sales of alcohol and everyone else is the latter. Only unlicenced (I.E. No CHL) carry is forbidden in "blue" locations, all firearms are forbidden in "red" ones.
* Sometimes averted depending on the weapon. Some (admittedly amateur) research indicates that carrying mediaeval edged-weapons around doesn't intimidate people, as they assume that criminals would use a modern weapon...
* The [[UsefulNotes/BritsWithBattleships Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)]][[note]]Not to be confused with the Cameron Highlanders, who continue on in amalgamated form as part of the Highlanders, 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (4 SCOTS); the Cameronians (named after Covenanter preacher [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Cameron_(Covenanter) Richard Cameron]]) disbanded in 1968[[/note]] had a tradition of maintaining military discipline during Church services, including posting sentries and keeping arms nearby. This is an invocation of the time when their ancestors were a Protestant regiment with lots of Catholic troops nearby.
* In 1637, Brechin Cathedral in Scotland saw a particularly extreme case of this: the Bishop of Brechin, Walter Whitford, brandished two pistols while '''performing the service''', and several of his family and friends stood nearby, also armed. King Charles I had recently ordered that all church services use the Anglican Book of Common Prayer -- a move which Whitford supported, but which infuriated most Scottish Presbyterians. Unsurprisingly, the service concluded without incident, but Whitford was attacked by an angry mob on his way home.
* In UsefulNotes/VaticanCity in UsefulNotes/{{Rome}}, there is the {{P|raetorian Guard}}ontifical [[CadreOfForeignBodyguards Swiss Guard]]. These are the guys with the fancy uniforms who are often armed with swords and/or pikes which they carry into places like St. Peter's Basilica as part of their job (protecting UsefulNotes/ThePope and the Curia).
[[/folder]]

Guns In Church is what occurs when a weapon is carried or brandished when not appropriate. When you have Guns In Church, the bank, the supermarket, the U.N, an airport, or anywhere else where the very mention of a weapon could be grounds for arrest, people in games are surprisingly aloof to the dangers it presents. As a result, everyone fantasizes about owning a sword/gun/etc that will never leave their side in all of life's journeys.

** Later on in the same movie, while at the park, when he mistakes a toy gun for a real one, he pulls out his own. This prompts his partner/rival's police dog to charge him and bite his arm, making him dropping the gun.

* In ''Film/TheTenthVictim'', a Hunter who has just been told by the manager that no shooting is allowed in the restaurant complains about the increasing restrictions: "In the restaurant it is not permitted, in the church it is not permitted...."

* In ''Literature/TheHuntForRedOctober'', the Soviet ambassador states that although the USSR's submarines are massing on the US eastern coast, they are still in international waters and legally allowed to be there. The American president points out that in the USA someone may be legally allowed to carry a shotgun on their property but if your next door neighbor starts patrolling his lawn with one while your children are playing on your lawn, you are not going to be happy about it.
* In the ''Literature/IronDruidChronicles'' the Atticus gets a lot of flak for carrying his sword with him in public despite there being nothing inherently illegal about it. Normally carrying a baseball bat will not look very suspicious but when Atticus was lurking in a night club parking lot after dark with two baseball bats the police justifiably thought he was up to no good. He really could not explain that he was backing up a witch in killing a bunch of monsters who were immune to iron.
* Creator/KenMacLeod's ''The Night Sessions''. Guns not specifically mentioned, but during the Great Rejection, the police "God Squads" pulled off repeated irruptions of "boots in the pews" at insufficiently Politically Correct services.
* During ''[[Literature/CiaphasCain Old Soldiers Never Die]]'', Cain and most of the other Guard officers and commissars on the planet attend a funeral service at the cathedral. The priests aren't happy about all the sidearms, but have to put up with it since they're part of the dress uniforms. The priests are even less happy when the corpses reanimate and those sidearms get drawn.
--> '''Hierophant Callister:''' Commissar! This is a house of the Emperor!
--> '''Cain:''' Then I'm sure He'd approve of us keeping it safe.

* Averted for [[PlayedForLaughs laughs]] in ''Literature/TheTwoTowers'', where the heroes are surprised and greatly annoyed/distressed at being asked to leave their weapons at the door when being brought before King Theoden. The guards allow Gandalf to keep his staff, either not realizing that it was the most dangerous item they had or because they secretly wanted him to do something to snap the King out of his Wormtongue-induced delerium.

* In ''Series/GameOfThrones'' Viserys Targarayen, impatient with Khal Drogo, tries to intimidate him into giving him the army he was promised by drawing a sword on him... in Vaes Dothrak, a city in which it is expressly forbidden. [[spoiler: The Khal merely signals his bodyguards to break his sword arm and hold him down while Drogo pours molten gold on him.]]

** That said, SG teams (particularly [=SG1=]) walk around with their submachine guns on slings (and Teal'c holding his Goa'uld staff weapon, since there isn't a holster or sling made that can [[{{BFG}} hold that monster]]) in all kinds of relatively innocuous settings, like primitive villages and ultra-modern high-tech cities. Somewhat justified, since they are on alien planets at the time, and do need to be ready to defend themselves, just in case.

* ''TabletopGame/ArsMagica'': TheArchmage Philippus Niger always carries an unsheathed dagger of human bone, in fact a potent magical talisman, on full display in his hand or his belt. With his rank of Protector of Durenmar[[note]](i.e., the most important MagicalLibrary in Europe)[[/note]] and his [[TheDreaded widespread reputation]] of "Don't Mess With This Magus", he can get away with it.
* Plenty of players in a wide range of RPG games will take it for granted that they can carry their swords/bows/guns/staffs of power anywhere without hindrance, including bars, temples and audiences with the king. Just have an NPC ask them to leave their weapons behind, and they'll react with fear, suspicion and outrage. (It probably doesn't help that many game world writeups ''do'' seem to establish that the more restrictive a given place's rules on weapons are, the more hostile it will be to player characters -- perpetuating the stereotype where they don't create it in the first place.) Then they'll usually try to conceal the weapons somehow, or develop elaborate tactics to reach their weapons just in case the pacifistic church where no one is allowed to carry a weapon happens to be full of armed soldiers. This desperation to avoid separation from their most beloved possessions often turns out to be justified, since so many game masters will be unable to pass up the chance to catch the player characters at less than their min/maxed best. This is unfortunate, since these times are almost the only occasions in a tabletop game where the players will not emulate LeeRoyJenkins when they encounter VillainsOutShopping, GoKartingWithBowser or DidYouJustHaveTeaWithCthulhu.

** ''VideoGame/DeusExHumanRevolution'' averts this. Certain areas won't allow you to pull out your weapons, and in other areas civilians will panic and/or refuse to talk to you if your gun is drawn.

* Subverted in ''VideoGame/DivineDivinity''. People notice when you talk to them with your weapon drawn, and you are given you the option to threaten them, or attack them.

** ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'' introduces a mechanic where speaking to a NPC with your weapon drawn will result in a disposition penalty with that NPC, and this was carried into ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]''. Because the disposition penalty is so small, it Downplays the trope instead of Averting it.

* Being unarmed in the world of ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' is generally a bad idea. There are, however two notable exceptions: The New California Republic in ''VideoGame/Fallout2'' doesn't allow drawn guns within the city (they have a police force, after all) and [[IJustShotMarvinInTheFace waving your gun in someone else's face]] will penalize speech checks in ''VideoGame/Fallout3''.
** And throughout ''VideoGame/Fallout1'' and ''2'' there are several places where people will tell you to put your guns away, before they allow you to talk to them or walk into the town.

** The casinos in ''[[VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas New Vegas]]'' frisk guests for weapons, and thus the guards get understandably upset when you draw a weapon. Gets hilarious when you're treated politely while wearing full [[KnightTemplar Brotherhood of Steel]] [[PoweredArmor power armour]] and accompanied by an eight foot tall [[LightningBruiser Super Mutant]] and a {{Cyborg}} German Shepherd, but the guards all pull guns if you slip on brass knuckles.

* The ''Franchise/{{Hitman}}'' series of games takes this trope and tosses it off a cliff. If you carry ANY weapon that isn't concealed whilst wearing your default outfit, you will blow your cover and all hell will break loose, with the exception of one level in the entire series (so far), however if you have a guard's uniform on things get a bit more relaxed, you can carry two handed weapons, however you can only carry them underslung, and they have to be standard issue to guards/security/gang members. (So if the guards are armed with SMG's, you can't be carrying around a gatling gun), carrying them "at the ready" is still allowed, but far more suspicious, but don't even THINK about aiming. Interestingly even if an alert has been raised, you can only ever have pistols concealed, even if other guards are running around pseudo-aiming, if you draw yours you will be fired upon the moment you are spotted.

* In ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' and [[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords its sequel]], you can go anywhere, anytime with any weapon clearly visible in your hands, even Manaan, a planet under very strict pacifist rule. There is a moment on Tatooine in a cantina where the barkeep tell you not to use blasters inside, but he still seems okay with you waving one or two around.
* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' 3D games generally prevent Link from using weapons while in houses and other town buildings, but the 2D games allow him to commit violence everywhere. In particular, in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' Link cannot draw his sword in Castle Town, though he can draw his sword and swing it around the his heart's content in every other town. An exception is ''VideoGame/ZeldaIITheAdventureOfLink'': Link's sprites show him constantly holding his sword, even if he is in a peaceful town. One must wonder if this makes the townspeople nervous. ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' is another exception, as you can brandish weapons absolutely anywhere and even [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential swing them at civilians]].

* Given its relative realism you'd expect that drawing weapons in a city might cause a ruckus, but ''VideoGame/MountAndBlade'' averts this, and with good reason. Calradia is in a state of constant war, with raiding parties, bandits, and mercenaries pretty much everywhere. A person carrying weapons openly while covered in plate armor is hardly worth a second glance, but civilian [=NPCs=] won't fuss if you happen to draw a spear and shove the pointy end in their face while talking to them. Shopkeepers blithely ignore the mace being waved in their face by your character while you browse their wares, and even city guards will simply give you a generic 'don't cause trouble' message.

* Averted in ''VideoGame/Postal2''. Waving any kind of weapon around will scare people away and/or alert the police. The "E" key allows you holster your weapon.

* In ''VideoGame/VampireTheMasqueradeRedemption'', your characters could walk around in full tactical armour brandishing [=RPGs=] and flamethrowers, and police, store owners and private citizens didn't bat an eye (in NYC this was bad enough but London?). Just don't get caught [[KissOfTheVampire necking with someone in an alleyway]]...

** Most Westerns would have you believe this was case in the wild west. In reality many towns at the time had ordinances requiring you to turn your guns over at a saloon or livery while you were in town. This was one of the things that led up to the shootout between the Earps and the Clantons and [=McLaurys=] at the O.K. Corral, since the former were attempting to disarm the latter.

*** Texas law as of August 2015 forbids the carrying of an openly displayed handgun (though longarms such as rifles and shotguns have no restrictions) in public places except during specific activities such as shooting at a range, hunting or when traveling. If you want to carry a handgun, publicly (as a private citizen) in Texas, you need a Concealed Handgun License and the firearm must not be in plain sight. On the other hand, carrying openly in Kentucky is likely to get attention only in the most metropolitan areas and even then police will just politely ask the carrier not to carry openly if possible due to the risk of an alarmed citizen wasting police time with a report of a "man with a gun".
*** Churches were initially one of the places specifically mentioned by Texas state law as off limits for concealed carry, along with hospitals and some other locations but this is no longer the case and they must post specific signage like any other property to explicitly forbid carry there. In an odd showing of non-hypocritical governance, the Texas capitol is a permitted location, along with any government owned property (state or local government) and at the capitol, the fastest way to enter is by approaching the security and showing a CHL (Concealed Handgun License), whereupon you will be waved past the metal detectors and allowed to proceed freely whilst still armed.

* TruthInTelevision. While churches have a very long history of being sanctuaries where you're not permitted to bring a holstered and concealed weapon, there have been been cases of police officers interrupting mass or sermons ''with drawn guns'' and not understanding what people are so upset about. The exact phrase used for this sort of situation (at least in Texas) is ".22s for Jesus". Of course we all know that the Lord would prefer to [[Manga/BlackLagoon use a Jericho]], but that gets into a completely different debate all together.

* TruthInTelevision in much of the US, where concealed-weapons permits are easy to obtain. May not count as this trope since they're concealed.

** It should also be noted that most states have separate laws for handguns and long guns. For example, in Michigan a license must be obtained to carry a concealed handgun, but no permit is needed to carry in the open. It's perfectly legal to carry around a rifle or shotgun without a license, so long as it's not in or on a motor vehicle (due to hunting from vehicles being prohibited). If you want to carry in a church, synagogue, mosque, etc., you need the concealed carry permit along with the permission of the person in charge of the house of worship. Michigan also happens to be one of the few states that require law-enforcement personnel to carry their sidearms even when off duty, ''except'' in church.

* Averted in the UK, where firearms, especially handguns, are tightly regulated and largely unavailable to private citizens (excepting shotguns which require a small fee and some paperwork, followed by an inspection of proposed storage). Thus when a French police officer working in St Pancras station for the international customs office (they have French officers on the British side and vice-versa) forgot to take her gun out of her holster, before walking across to the non-international section of the station to buy lunch, she got in ''serious'' trouble.

[-[[caption-width-right:350:Hey, yutz! Guns aren't toys! They're for family protection, hunting dangerous and delicious animals and keepin' the King of England out of your face!]]-]

[[folder: Anime and Manga]]

* The protagonists and most recurring characters of ''Manga/CityHunter'' tend to carry at least a handgun ''everywhere but the bathroom'', with the crowner being Umibozu bringing a machine gun and a bazooka ''at his own marriage''. {{Justified}} by them being {{Professional Killer}}s [[ProperlyParanoid who could be attacked any moment]], and in fact ''Umibozu's wedding was attacked by professional soldiers'' (Ryo, who was attending, had accidentally ruined a coup in a foreign country by protecting the escaped president, and the leader of the coup started his attempt at revenge with that attack).
* A running gag in ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'' is that Sousuke goes absolutely ''everywhere'' heavily armed, no matter how inappropriate or illegal that would be. Even fellow military {{Otaku}} is appalled when he tries to enter a Shinto shrine while armed for bear.

* ''ComicBook/{{Ultimatum}}'': Why does Carol Danvers need to carry a BFG around in the Triskelion?

* In the Pixar film ''WesternAnimation/{{Up}}'', one of Ellie's friends or family members fires a single gunshot in one of the back pews after she and Carl kiss on the altar during their wedding.

[[folder: Film -- Live Action]]

[[folder: Literature]]

[[folder: Live-Action TV]]

[[folder: Newspaper Comics]]

[[folder: Tabletop Games]]

[[folder: Video Games]]

* ''Franchise/DeusEx'':

** ''VideoGame/{{Fable II}}'': Carrying your weapons on your back (or on your side for that matter) is acceptable seeing as it is an archaic society, but, oddly enough, most [=NPCs=] keep their weapons in [[HyperspaceArsenal hammerspace]].

* The ''VideoGame/{{Hitman}}'' series of games takes this trope and tosses it off a cliff. If you carry ANY weapon that isn't concealed whilst wearing your default outfit, you will blow your cover and all hell will break loose, with the exception of one level in the entire series (so far), however if you have a guard's uniform on things get a bit more relaxed, you can carry two handed weapons, however you can only carry them underslung, and they have to be standard issue to guards/security/gang members. (So if the guards are armed with SMG's, you can't be carrying around a gatling gun), carrying them "at the ready" is still allowed, but far more suspicious, but don't even THINK about aiming. Interestingly even if an alert has been raised, you can only ever have pistols concealed, even if other guards are running around pseudo-aiming, if you draw yours you will be fired upon the moment you are spotted.

[[folder: Western Animation]]
* On ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}'', "covert operative" Lana Kane frequently wears two guns openly in side holsters over her otherwise skintight clothing.

[[folder: Real Life]]

* In UsefulNotes/TheVatican in UsefulNotes/{{Rome}}, there is the {{P|raetorian Guard}}ontifical [[CadreOfForeignBodyguards Swiss Guard]]. These are the guys with the fancy uniforms who are often armed with swords and/or pikes which they carry into places like St. Peter's Basilica as part of their job (protecting UsefulNotes/ThePope and the Curia).

* In the Vatican, there is the Pontifical Swiss Guard. These are the guys with the fancy uniforms who are often armed with swords and/or pikes which they carry into places like St. Peter's Basilica as part of their jobs.

* ''TabletopGame/ArsMagica'': TheArchmage Philippus Niger always carries an unsheathed dagger of human bone, in fact a potent magical talisman, on full display in his hand or his belt. With his rank of Protector of Durenmar[[note]](i.e., the most important MagicalLibrary in Europe) and his [[TheDreaded widespread reputation]] of "Don't Mess With This Magus", he can get away with it.

* A common joke regarding [[TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 the Imperial Guard]] involves Guardsmen obsessively taking their standard-issue lasrifles everywhere, including to the latrines and, presumably, mass (granted, said mass is conducted by an organization that employs flamethrower-equipped nuns). Since IG regulations prescribe ''execution'' for losing an issue weapon outside of combat, they have a solid reason not to let it out of sight.