– Q. I was davening in a shul in the States and I noticed that the fellow next to me who is very frum had in the back of the inside holding space of his shtender (personal holding pulpit) in front of him, usually used for storing his taalis and holybooks, a hidden gun.

I asked him why? And he told me here we have to be very careful and ready on this terrible times. I was wondering Kvod Horav, does that shtender become a “Bosis” (a holding and supporting base for a muktza item such as a gun and cannot be moved anymore during Shabbos? And if not, why not?

A. Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a explained that first of all the gun may not be muktza and permitted to move when needed, since after all it is a utensil of need in our times and on that location. Unless, it is an unusual weapon such as a machine-gun that is not commonly used.

Besides, even if it is a muktza item, since there are other non-muktza items inside the shtender, such as the taalis and holybooks, the shtender would be permitted to be used, as it becomes a base also for those permitted items. This being similar to the Shabbos table that supports the candles and also the chalos, wine etc.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit’a.