Newest gun free zones are Uber and Lyft vehicles.

I understand the distinction in legal structure.
But when facing a gunman, the trapped unarmed victim faces the same risk of death whether the right to carry was removed by a localized gun-free zone, by a City Ordinance, a US State law, a US Fed law, or (perish the thought) some future global law system growing out of the UN monster.

Martyrdom is not suicide. Martyrdom is death of an individual at the hands of another, against the will of that individual. A suicide is at the will of the individual. Living in NYC and/or the District of Columbia is not suicide, but it is putting oneself in danger if they feel the world is right in those 'gun free' zones.

Gun restrictions might as well be accompanied by engraved invitations to any loony who has a desire to kill people.

I view a "gun free zone" such as where that slaughter in a South Carolina to be nothing but a potential death trap for a shooter with issues.
I avoid such places as much as I physically can.
A so-called "gun free zone" should always require armed security of some sort.

Be that as it may, Christianity has a long history of martyrdom, starting with its namesake.

This government is all about control. It hates allowing us citizens having freedom: freedom from regulations, free to purchase guns, free to buy a big gas guzzler of a vehicle, free to pursue our lives as we want to. Their antidote to every problem is more control, never understand the root cause, because control is really what they want.

The original topic was about state mandated "gun free zones". Some congregations willingly make themselves gun free zones. What is it about Christianity that draws pastors to think being a disarmed victim is a virtue?

Are they testing themselves before god? Are they thinking “God will protect us if we're worthy?” This magical thinking is getting congregations killed around the world.

"Gun laws" have nothing to do with anyone's safety except those who are taking control. The fact that a church, school, or other organization complies is what they want so future "crises" will justify more "gun laws." Compliance with stupidity and evil leads only to tragedy for innocent people.

Federal law? State law?
...no difference to the citizens not allowed to defend themselves

Once the feds made the move on schools it was open season on other common meeting places, although I see the point that schools are govt supported and churches are not. Govt meddlers gone mad, as usual.

Agree about the Dark Center. But again, even your second link doesn't apply here: it is about schools; the Charleston incident was a church. And our Federal government was not the first to impose gun control laws.

Thanks, that is true in specific instance but the feds invented gun free zones.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun-Free_S...
imo, SC would not have it if not for the Dark Center "leadership."

Agree in general. But I think it was a state law, not Federal.