How concerned are churches about security?
Recently a Texas church ordered a bulletproof pulpit from a Missouri company that makes lecterns for the federal government.
“Their fear was that an active shooter would come in and shoot the place,” said Paul Alexander, founder of Executive Wood Products in Sullivan, Mo., which makes anti-ballistic lecterns.
What they feared did happen at another church in Texas. A shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs on Nov. 5 left 26 dead and 20 wounded. That same day, a shooting at a church in Fresno, California left two dead. A shooting at a church in Antioch, Tennessee on Sept. 24 killed one and left several injured.
More than 91 people have been killed in 22 church-related shootings since 1999.
With three fatal shootings in 2017, this has been the deadliest year for killings at U.S. churches. It has been a recurring problem, from seven dead at Wedgwood Baptist Church in Texas in 1999 to nine killed at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., in 2015.
The recent Texas shooting has churches nationwide reviewing their security policies to see if there are precautions they can take to prevent attacks against churchgoers.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is offering safety awareness training to area churches.
“In light of incidents we have seen in other areas of our country we want to insure we are as prepared as we can be here,” said Sheriff Mike Hale. “My prayer is that the training is highly attended and effective but never ever needed.”
A similar program by the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office last month drew about 1,000 people and forced them to move to a larger venue.
But how far will churches go for a sense of safety?
“We’ve gotten a lot of interest,” said Alexander, the bullet-proof pulpit maker, who advises churches, recruiting stations and courthouses on how to increase security through anti-ballistic furniture. “I think safe havens are really important. It can be anti-ballistic pews, anti-ballistic lecterns, active shooting preparedness planning.”
The anti-ballistic lecterns, desks, wall panels and pews are mostly used in political settings and courthouses, but they work in churches too, Alexander said.
“If we build an anti-ballistic pew, you couldn’t tell it,” Alexander said.
Church members can be taught how to use safe havens in the event of an active shooter, he said.
“There would need to be some way for the congregation to know where they can go,” he said.
“A lot of churches are ramping up their security,” said Tina Siebenman, vice president of Executive Wood Products. “You can do it with a basic lectern and a couple of pews. You can do a ballistic-resistant lectern the pastor can hide behind. You don’t have to make every pew anti-ballistic. You can strategically stagger them. If an active shooter walks in, you can hide behind them. We’re looking for a way to retrofit pews. They want to keep their church pews they’ve had for 80 years.”
Alexander also recommends rolling bulletproof panels.
“For recruiting stations, we’re doing anti-ballistic panels and they’re mobile, 4-foot-by-six-foot panels on mobile casters, either wood paneled or fabric, and you can put it wherever you want,” he said. “You could roll that up to that person. You could retreat behind it. We’ve got 184 in production. They weigh 300 pounds apiece. They just look like a panel that you would put posters on.”
Full story at Brinkwire.
Plenty of congregants have the skills and guns necessary to neutralize bad guys. A “gun free zone” church is a sitting target. Pray for peace but prepare for war, even in the pews.
Shades of the old “kill a commie for Christ” days.
Gosh Jim McCrea, perhaps you can ward off a determined shooter with mockery. The old days of churches being off limits to violence are gone, are you know it. Being snarky is not the same as being prepared.
Kristin, do you really believe in carrying a gun to Church? Sometimes, we are in situations beyond our control– and the unfortunate situation is in God’s hands… and you have to be courageous– and accept your death, and the deaths of loved ones. Best thing, is to have armed guards, for churches located in dangerous places. And in the end, you have to accept your fate, you are in God’s hands. Pope St. John Paul II had to accept his fate, on the day of his near-fatal shooting. Christ, too, had to accept being falsely accused, and put to death. All is in God’s hands.
In Latin American countries, this issue has been a huge one, for Catholic clergy! Should they carry a gun for self-protection, when their lives are threatened by Communists who seek to kill them?? Love the answer of St. Abp Oscar Romero! He refused to carry a gun, and preached very strongly, against it! And he died a martyr for Christ, right at the holiest part of the Mass!
Great example of Faith, Linda Marie
Linda Maria, a gun is simply a tool that can be most helpful if in the right hands. It’s about taking responsibility for oneself to the degree possible. Self defense is not sinful. Yes, God’s will be done, and that may include a fight to the death, therefore being prepared spiritually and physically is prudent.
Kristin, a sincerre, mature, committed Christian leads a different kind of life, than what you decribe. The Swiss Guard protects the Pope, in the Vatican. But the Pope himself, does not carry a weapon, nor overly-concern himself, with self-defense, nor worry for his life– that is not Christian! And when Jesus was arrested, and a follower drew his sword, cutting off the ear of the High Priest’s servant — He told him to to put away his sword, and that all who live by the sword, will perish by it—- and He healed the wounded man’s ear. St. Abp. Oscar Romero, and other fine Saints– had plenty to say, about refusal to carry weapons for self-defense.
The military and police are hired and trained, to protect our society. Our country is not a “war zone,” it is America, a good and decent country!
Have you lost your mind! They have already entered our country and killed thousands of Americans and you expect us to believe that our country is not a war zone. Are the people who died just statistics to you?
Anonymous, a handy source you might try, regarding the concept of Christian teachings on non-violence– are the excellent speeches of the famous, tragically-assassinated, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Allowing the violent to rule the world perpetrates violence.
Anonyous, Christ taught that God rules the world, not Satan. Christ proved that, through His crucifixion and resurrection. You cannot overcome evil with evil, only with God’s love. America is not a “war zone,” like the Middle East– it is only a country that has lost her moral compass. In the end– God shall triumph, not Satan! Catholics should not carry a weapon— they should say their Rosaries, instead– and be men and women of peace, avoid bad situations- and in your community– make sure there is good police protection, in dangerous areas.
If Christ taught that God rules the world, then why did the prayer that he taught his disciples call for God’s kingdom to come on earth if God’s kingdom was already on earth? Is the evil that is on the earth God’s doing? Is fighting evil also evil? Should not the police also carry rosaries instead of weapons? Should not the police start saying the rosary when they see a robbery taking place so that God will fix the problem? Should I jump off a cliff and expect God to send an Angel to catch me so I won’t die? Did God’s love stop Adolph Hitler from taking over the world?
sometimes the main celebrant has the best view of incoming when all are seated. a chasuble with a hidden holster could easily complement any other small weapons hiding areas such as the shelf under the lectern,etc. “
Are you actually serious with that idea? In a CATHOLIC church???
The one who’s hard to take serious is you, Jim.
I’d like to see some Rambo priests and nuns that carry guns.
Matthew 5:39
That verse refers to revenge and retaliation. Self defense is neither of those.
Read it again.
Did, and encourage you to as well. Standing by my post.
People believe what they want.
Regarding your Biblical quote, from St. Matthew 5:39–“Turn the other cheek,” is a basic, hard, and courageous Christian teaching! Good for you, Anonymous!
Would Christ, in His day, have bought a bullet-proof pulpit, and a gun, for His preaching, such as when He gave His Sermon on the Mount, and many other times, when He preached to the great crowds of followers?? I think not.
Linda’s way of thinking led to the conquest of Europe by the Nazis and the Jewish Holocaust. The Hitlers of the world should be met with force, not cowering and surrendering. The Bible never said that we should allow Satan’s chosen rulers to win. We called by God to resist the devil. Evil prevails when good men do nothing. We should stand and fight like Charles Martel against the monsters of history who wish to wipe out Christian nations. Defend religious freedom! Stop the attackers!
Anonymous, this is a Catholic website! I would suggest that you try to read a few modern works on this subject, by saintly, outstanding priests and prelates, who have daily faced death threats, in countries located in Latin America, the Far East, and Russia, Poland, and Eastern Europe.
If a man was raping your daughter and you had a gun, would you shoot him?
Anonymous, one needs common sense! One should be careful, and avoid danger. And one should not go out and buy a weapon– instead, avoid danger in life! The police and military provide protection for us. Say your Rosary! God will help you!
How do you propose avoiding a home invasion?
On the issue of firearms for the clergy and laity (at Mass), Fr. Zuhlsdorf has some good posts (e.g., here, here, here, and here).
I would not like to go to Mass, and sit in pews filled with armed parishioners, and their families! Nor get into a Communion line, nor kneel at an altar rail with such people, either!
It looks like you don’t want to be around people who are willing to put their lives on the line to save you.