MATAMORAS, PA (WNEP/CNN) – As the debate rages on nationwide about guns and gun control in the wake of last week’s Florida school shooting, a church plans to hold a so-called “gun blessing ceremony” next week.
Hundreds of people are expected at Wednesday’s gun blessing ceremony featuring assault rifles at Sanctuary Church in Wayne County.
But before that, church leaders are planning a President Trump “Thank You” benefit dinner here in Pike County.
"I'm eager to see how this whole thing is going to pan out for this area,” said Carl Braunagel of Goodfella's Pizza and Italian Restaurant. “This is a pretty low-key, semi-rural area. People kind of keep to their own business."
Church leaders planned both the ceremony and the dinner before the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, nearly a week and a half ago.
"It's going to draw a lot of attention from people from this area,” said high school student Anton Mackey. “Especially because this is an area known for Trump supporters and gun control is a big issue."
Because of the national attention both events are drawing, local businesses in this part of Pike County are preparing for a busy weekend ahead of the dinner.
"We make a lot of pizza. We have a great Italian restaurant. We're actually getting our staff in line, preparing a lot of the foods that are coming in,” Braunagel said. “So, it should be a very interesting event."
The “President Trump Thank You Dinner” will be held at a local Best Western Saturday night. Although no rifles are expected, one will be raffled off.
Guests are, however, encouraged to bring rifles to Wednesday’s ceremony at Sanctuary Church.
"I don't really have a very good comfort level with that," Braunagel said.
Not because of the guns, but because of the amount of people who are expected to attend.
"I myself do carry a weapon,” Braunagel said. “I think it's our constitutional right, but I think we also need to be a little bit intelligent about how we distribute firearms."
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