Carrying Guns on Shabbas
- Rabbi Daniel Travis

- Mar 17
- 1 min read

Question
Question: In the wake of the Pittsburg massacre, our shul has coordinated a volunteer security team. What are the halachos in regard to carrying guns and cell phones on Shabbos?
Rav Auerbach
Both cellphones and guns are considered keilim she'melachtam l'isur, therefore it is mutar to move them when in need of their place, or for a permissible use. Accordingly, you do not need to be concerned with muktzah since they are being carried for a permissible use (protecting the shul goers.) It would nonetheless be preferable to carry your phone in an unusual way to limit the extent of the issur muktzah being done.
This is all in regards to the issur muktzah. However, when it comes to the melocho of hotza'ah there is not enough of a danger to warrant carrying a gun or phone. So unless there is an eiruv they should not be carried outside. You should keep the gun locked up in shul.


