Shooting at a Synagogue in Pittsburgh

[Grant H.]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46002549

For those that attend churches, it's time to have a security plan.

This is getting more common, and several churches I have visited have no idea how they would react.

[UrbanWolf]

And for each one of these highly publicized incident, the crazies take note of every vulnerable public areas that they can potential struck, schools, shopping centers, churches..... gun free zone just became more and more well known.

[Grant H.]

And for each one of these highly publicized incident, the crazies take note of every vulnerable public areas that they can potential struck, schools, shopping centers, churches..... gun free zone just became more and more well known.

True.

Very sadly, and unavoidably true.

[Zundfolge]

The church I attend is prepared. We have a team of volunteers that patrol during services (many are armed, although we don't really make a big deal about it). Also there are many people that attend who are armed. I almost feel sorry for someone that would attempt a mass casualty event at our church ... almost.

[Skip]

The problem we have is consistency with certain people attending on an irregular basis. On most days we are probably good to stop a single shooter in the lobby. On other days we are very light and I stand by the door.

Then some Sundays... Wow.

It's really the only place I frequent that I don't feel safe and I'm not sure have the best security plan would change that feeling.

[Grant H.]

The problem we have is consistency with certain people attending on an irregular basis. On most days we are probably good to stop a single shooter in the lobby. On other days we are very light and I stand by the door.

Then some Sundays... Wow.

It's really the only place I frequent that I don't feel safe and I'm not sure have the best security plan would change that feeling.

We run into the same thing with attendance, and as such, those of us that are in the leadership group try to schedule things as best as possible.

On the weeks when we are short, I do the same thing of standing by the door or being up and moving through the building. We also have camera's that several of us are tapped into and watching off/on through the service.

Bottom line, do I think we are setup as best as can be? Nope. But it's better than several of the churches I have visited.

[Skip]

[snip]

Bottom line, do I think we are setup as best as can be? Nope. But it's better than several of the churches I have visited.

I don't think we can ever be 100% prepared.

We had the luxury of an FBI agent to come in an assess everything last year. We did everything he advised us to do with respect to facilities/improvements; updated security system with new cameras, creating one entry point, adding second locks on some doors, adding lighting in certain places.

But the human factor is our variable.

Fortunately, I think that any level of armed resistance tends to end mass shooting attempts pretty quickly. Like you guys have said, better than other places.

LIKE

Projection of violence/balance or force and all that.

[Irving]

Fortunately, I think that any level of armed resistance tends to end mass shooting attempts pretty quickly. Like you guys have said, better than other places.

[Zundfolge]

Fortunately, I think that any level of armed resistance tends to end mass shooting attempts pretty quickly.

I agree, most mass shooters are operating in a fantasy world where they're "The God of Death" and the instant they meet any armed resistance, that fantasy falls apart and many of them will stop and eat their own gun at that point (basically what happened at New life, and many other shootings).

[hollohas]

Many programs are sponsored by local sheriff departments to help places of worship make a plan. JeffCo's is called Security in Faith. They run quarterly meetings and an annual summit. On top of that, they will send a deputy to your church to work with your security team or give advice for starting one. The Jeffco SD even used my church building a while back so they could train for these sorts of events. They told us after where all the major problem areas and challenges were to securing our building.

There is another program sponsored by the US Attorneys office called Protecting Houses of Worship that can help.

Many of the insurance companies that cover churches will also provide support and resources to help develop strong church security plans. Some are free services, others cost money. Money well spent IMO.

Many churches talk about or even create actual plans for these sorts of events. They may even bring all the leaders in and give each particular responsibilities. They have volunteers run "security" or create entire teams. Some even paid. But the major mistake I think most make is they never do walkthroughs or simulations. I'm not talking about live fire simulations or anything like that, I'm just saying something as basic as a fire drill. One Saturday bring all the volunteers and and run drills. Make sure the kids ministry folks know how to actually use the special door locks the church has purchased. Make people actually use the radios to raise an alarm and coordinate. If they are a smaller church and don't have that, make the volunteers go through the process of notifying others that there is a threat. Walkthrough your written security plan from start to finish, actually role playing like something is happening.

Talking and planning are good first steps, but plans are more likely to fail without training.