How do we defend our churches or temples?

With all the attacks on churches and other places of worship, how can we defend ourselves and others from these acts of violence that have become a common thing?

Honest question. We need to be working on this as a country and will hopefully help other countries.

Guess i should've added this as well. This isn't a gun debate thread.

I guess the US has unwittingly walked into this problem. That said, attacks on places of worship are very rare.

I think that to understand the solution, you need to understand the cause.

1. A violent culture made so by social division, poor social cohesion and Hollywood.
2. Easy access to guns.
3. Poor mental health provision in the US compared to similarly developed nations.
4. Lack of political leadership at all levels.

a reply to: paraphi

They are rare. Unfortunately they are becoming more common.

I'm with you except number two. There have been attacks not using firearms. Like the mosque in Minnesota back in August.

a reply to: Somethingsamiss

The problem is defense of the general public from the attack of the mentally disturbed.

I don't think that ramping up the defense actually solves the problem.

One day, a nutcase will get their hands on a WMD of some type (bio/chemo/nuclear), it is almost an assured thing.

We need to address the elephant in the room (not the mouse that may get crushed).

I think that Paraphi is mostly right but too conservative.

a reply to: Somethingsamiss

You don't. You just send your prayers and preach more guns just like the many times before. Preach the same thing, until the mass shootings all magically go away.

There are reports of an armed citizen who stopped the gunman from going any further. This was after 26 people.

Move them out of America

1. Full body scanners at all public gatherings

2. (Optional) invest in body scanner company

3. Profit

In my church, in the anti gun New York. We always have had our law enforcement members carry. They volunteer as a security force that most members don’t even know about. I feel very safe, there highly trained.

a reply to: BadBoYeed

I actually agree with this. I've worked in a lot of different factories and think we should use similar security measures. Gates that only open with a ID badge; armed entrances that lead to secured areas that are blocked off from the main areas; metal detectors, etc. That wouldn't stop everything, but it would definitely help.

Can you imagine the cost of having to install such security at every public gathering in the nation though?


Far better to spend that money on establishing a network for providing free mental healthcare.

Armed guards and metal detectors at the door if the church is against concealed carriers or allow people to carry firearms in the church.

a reply to: Somethingsamiss

An honest answer: With guns, loaded with bullets. The more people exercising their 2nd Amendment right (I mean both open and concealed carry) the more stopping power the people have. We still live in a country where the majority knows the difference between right and wrong. Its time we wake up and defend ourselves....especially Christians, who are told to be as cunning as serpents, but as innocent as doves.

a reply to: Painterz

that doesn't help unless the mentally ill realize that they need the help, unless you want to force people to get mental health screenings and care onto them.

a reply to: Somethingsamiss

We don't defend them. We just continue to have faith in God.

Other then just letting the chips fall and facing an attack with humble hearts, (which is not a bad thing) here's a few thoughts of aggressive preparedness to less aggressive pre-planning.

The pastor , the bishop, the rabbi or the lead spiritual leader should choose a few trusted individuals to carry concealed weapons when services are in sessions. If they don't want weapons in the building let those selected worship at the doors. Let them get training in response to a shooting at their building from local law enforcement.
If you don't want to protect your congregation in that way because it may mean killing an attacker, then you accept this type of attack can happen at your building and many of your loved ones may leave mortality as martyrs on such a day. Right now this is not a frequent event, may it never be. . .
Or if you have law enforcement in your services, let them carry concealed. . .not because you lack faith but that you can defend the helpless.
If weapons are not the answer for you then have your congregation be prepared to attack all at once to subdue and stop the attacker physically. Have the able sit on the outside rows understanding they may need to respond. Even throwing their hymn books in the face of an attacker could have distracted the man long enough to be tackled; Don't know wasn't there.
In a crisis when adrenaline is high we do what we had practice, its hard to invent a plan on the go, most can't think clearly till the event is over.
A watchman at the door and a way to close the doors off from the inside when a man with a gun approaches. Several cans of bear-mace at the door could help, also have your parking lot set back from the entry so a watchman can evaluated those who approach.
Have inner and outer entry doors with a foyer.
Non violent plans can be made, even the priest had a hole to hide in during the religious changes in England's history, we don't have to be sheep to a slaughter. We can take passive steps which don't have to be so obvious as to affect the spiritual nature of worship.
Of course you cant plan for everything but a plan is a good start. No plan is a plan to let such a person to do as they will.. We all know It's suppose to get worse in these last days. I know God is there, but he gave us a brain and expects us to think as well.

or a reply to: Somethingsamiss

a reply to: Somethingsamiss

With individual and organizational due diligence.

I'm not a religious person, but my mom and her husband are, and he's part of "secret" security team in the church, where they train at their own expense, get CCDW licenses at their own expense, and walk relatively inconspicuously through the church before, during, and after services providing unadvertised security.

I'd hate if for the person who walked into their church like Kelley did in Texas...or would I? He would have been put down the minute that his rifle was made known.

You can't, however, rely on the government or anyone else to do this for these organizations. And, obviously, praying isn't going to do it, so it's time to act at the individual level.

originally posted by: enlightenedservant
a reply to: BadBoYeed

I actually agree with this. I've worked in a lot of different factories and think we should use similar security measures. Gates that only open with a ID badge; armed entrances that lead to secured areas that are blocked off from the main areas; metal detectors, etc. That wouldn't stop everything, but it would definitely help.

At what point do we stop building walls around ourselves?

Seems like that responsibility rests on the shoulders of god, right? I mean, he wouldn't let his faithful suffer, would he? Not that guy, no way.

a reply to: Somethingsamiss

Do what Joel Osteen, TV evangalist does... Every usher in the church (10-15-20)..are black suit and tie dressed armed off duty Houston and Texas police officers.

I'm not religious or anything but, the bible -and other holy books- say "God or Divinity" is not found within temples/churches built by the hands of men. Besides, religion now is nothing like it was 2,000 - 10k years ago. There is entirely too much commercialism blended with the "hand-out to take your money" and less about people. Modern churches are more like social conventions as opposed to anything holy. However, with the way we have all contributed to the world -in one way or another- there isn't any surprise something like this happened. (As bad as it is.)