At our quarterly Deacons' Meeting yesterday the Preacher provided us with this article from the Journal of The Southern Baptist Convention, SBC Life.
Protecting Your Church Against Violence

The article deals with security issues , including building and parking lot security against theft, as well as a threat from an active shooter. Some might find the recommendations of the author a little surprising. He quotes a LEO source who recommends strategic location of a group of men willing to "go berserk" against an intruder. He says that "an armed response is extremely helpful in the event of an armed intruder."

Of the six Deacons present at the meeting, five of us, plus the Preacher, have Georgia Weapons Permits. We discussed the various options. Currently, although there is legislation in debate right now to change this, it is not legal to carry a weapon in a place of worship in Georgia. We decided not to present to the congregation any recommendations that would violate the law.

The Preacher, a decorated Vietnam era Recon Marine, has recently expressed to me some concerns about church security. I don't know what prompted his concern. He approached me several months ago, before publication of the linked article. He and I discussed our options, and had a session at my backyard range a few weeks ago. We intend to continue our range sessions, hopefully weekly.

It is a shame things have come to this. I guess even a House of God isn't immune to random acts of violence, and it is the duty of Church leadership to plan for the protection of the congregation.

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Georgia On My Mind

In light of passage of legislation in Georgia allowing Churches to "opt in" to allowing concealed carry, I thought the linked article might be a more timely topic than it was when this was originally posted.

I'm guessing that a quick way for a prospective random shooter to get his ticket punched would be to try to start such shenanigans in many country Churches in Georgia after the law takes effect.

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Georgia On My Mind

Never say never.

Statistically my well-worn J frame was more than sufficient.

I seriously upgraded anyway.

I am the head Deacon for my church, and the head of security. In Ohio CCW is illegal in church without permission from that church, our congregation only gives permission in writing. Even though that is not required by the law, it removes all misunderstandings ( it allows me to know who all is suppose to be carrying). My greatest concern is of a non-custodial parent or grand parent taking a child from the nursery or Sunday school. I have an ex-B-I-L that is/was a ordained minister in Kentucky. That state issues a permit to carry to all ministers that are otherwise legal to carry, That happened after a couple of congregations got shot up in Sunday service, by ex-husbands. Our church building is about 3/4 mile from a freeway exit and several arterial roads, We would be a prime target for a "Statement Attack" by any sort of fanatic. We have a plan and train it to all concerned to deal with abductions. On terror attacks, a few men are armed and we sit in locations to give good fields of fire, (we do a small amount of walk through training also), but our real protection come from The Lord. There is a Born Again former U.S. Marshal (Denver, Colorado) That has a training program for Church security. The seminar is called "Worship Without Worry", and her name is Tina Lewis Rowe. On the internet she has much free information. She has advised small churches all the way up to the Popes visit. She has all kinds of scary statistics, but doesn't leave you without hope for what to do. Her seminars run about $25 per person, and I highly recommend them, plus she responds to ALL e-mailed questions, it just may take a few days. The first help I can offer is place a couple of good men up front to keep anyone from rushing the speaker or pastor (across the nation there have been a number of pie in the face incidents that can get out of hand real fast). Almost all churches have traffic problems when service is over, look into Uniformed Special Duty Police for traffic control, That scares away 95-99% of loonies and other pests. Just a small amount of preparation goes a very long way. Ivan

If God won't protect you, nobody can.

God's protection can come in many forms....could be HIM that tells us to be prepared to protect ourselves and the congregation!!

Don

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Laus Deo! <><

Local church has one rented officer for about two hours. There is about twenty others that are carrying on any given Sunday. Men and women. One lady has a Kel- tec 380 and is a very good shot.

At my church, somebody would take the lid off the basket and throw the rattlesnakes at the intruder.

In our state, CW is permissible on church grounds with the permission of the presiding pastor or elder. Designated members do carry in our body, although who is carrying when is not discussed. When police officers or security people who have licenses to carry openly attend church services [either just after or just before] going to work, they carry their weapon holstered and we ask them not to enter into the areas where small children abound.

Part of the rule in our facility is that no weapon is taken into areas where small children are located. Surveillance cameras are present in these areas, however.

Unfortunately, we do believe that security must be taken seriously.

I love Georgia, and the preachers (most of them) therein.