Rifles can protect a church in the worst moments, but without strict training and policy they can bring catastrophic risk. Learn the guard rails every church must have.
Keith; Thanks for your time and training. I was thinking of another piece of equipment to be deployed with the rifle. Possibly a VEST with security on it to be worn, when deployed. Also when LEO or SWAT arrives you want solid ID of our "man with a gun". Turning over the scene to them. At the same time a spotter with the shooter might be beneficial for communication. If I were on the scope, I don't want to be distracted.
Keith, we've been considering a rifle, and this is solid information. It's been in the works, and out of caution, we haven't made that step. This will help a lot
I submit any discharge of a weapon, long gun or other, in your church runs the risk of ending that church. Even if everything is done right, the church and you can still be sued and probably will be. We must be concerned with personal liability for failure to train as leaders/trainers and individuals on the security team. This comes down to doing it right and to the best standards you can complete giving your financial support and personnel limitations. Large churches and mega churches are going to have different resources than a small or medium sized church. You’re going to have to do the best you can with what you have. Rifles may not be in the cards for your church. IMHO
I agree. This article was written because there are many churches that are allowing rifles with no guard rails whatsoever. I’m trying to provide that. I’m hoping that those churches look at what you need to do to make them realize if that is possible or not.
Just thinking affordability for most of the rest of us: how much do you have invested in your "Daniel Defense short barreled rifle with a Thunder Beast Arms silencer. It is equipped with a surefire light with a pressure switch and an infrared laser and an EO Tech red dot"?
Then as you said, it would be confiscated after an incident, only to be returned in what... well over a year in California? In the meantime just go out and buy another one?
If you have to use it at church, you’re gonna want the best that you have. With that said if you have Right To Bear coverage, they will replace your firearm. There is a link for a discount if you go to the graphic, I have in this article at the top
Wow, wow.. the enormity of the responsibility is paramount if a rifle is to be used. The operator MUST know that and understand that he has not only lives in his hand but also the church’s future. The gravity of the responsibility is paramount , a baseline not to be taken lightly.
Given my teams lack of training with handguns adding rifles is out of the question. I bring my personal rifle to church and secure it in my vehicle fortunately I'm always able to get there early and park right outside the back door I also took a carbine course this year when I decided I wanted to have access to a rifle at church.
I constantly stress to our team members that they hold the life of the church in their hand. Deploying a weapon at the wrong time or in the wrong circumstances will have a massive negative impact on the congregation and will likely drive a significant number of people to worship elsewhere, not to mention possible legal consequences. This being so, just imagine what a "friendly fire" incident would do. Another point to consider is whether there is a suitable backstop behind the threat. Is there a solid wall which will stop a bullet, or are there several walls made of drywall? Will a missed shot penetrate the wallboard and kill a child in the nursery, or your friend's spouse?
I am a two tour Vietnam veteran. I know the stress involved in an active shooting scenario. I would be very careful who was on the rifle at church. I head up the Watchers Ministry in our church and I have reserved the role of the man on the rifle for myself. I have an active duty Police officer with a SWAT training as backup for my position. I know this man not only knows how to use a rifle, but when it becomes necessary to use it. This a role which should be taken with the training and the right mental and emotional discipline. It is not for everyone.
I train with Able Shepherd training center in Centennial Colorado. The upper levels train with both Rifle and pistol. If you have never checked them out I highly recommend this training
This is a good start and I look forward to reading the following articles. This is something we have been thinking about and discussing for a while, but we are still trying to nail down policies that are needed prior to implementation. Thanks!
I haven’t heard anything about the cause of the vast majority of violent deaths in churches: abortion. The scenarios you focus on might cause 10 deaths per year. Abortions by evangelical Christians in the USA are likely 100,000. We’re wasting our time here.
Great article! I think it’s important for whoever mans a rifle to also put on a high visibility vest that says “Security” to help other security team members, concealed carriers, and first responders identify them as a good guy to avoid confusion. Also, you can have one mag of ammunition with hollow points to use to defend against an attacker who is not wearing body armor and a mag with armor piercing rounds if the attacker is wearing body armor. Thanks!
I'll go a step further. Any armed response should have at least two visible to the public and law enforcement identification pieces. I have supplied our team with high visibility wrist slaps (Most LE use them already), a badge that has a lanyard that goes over the neck when responding, and a high vis sash from DSM Safety products. Each person must, as soon as possible, deploy at least two of the three for their safety. As far as the ammunition, train your guys to use a failure to stop technique with a quality ammo, shouldn't be an issue! Good luck.
Keith; Thanks for your time and training. I was thinking of another piece of equipment to be deployed with the rifle. Possibly a VEST with security on it to be worn, when deployed. Also when LEO or SWAT arrives you want solid ID of our "man with a gun". Turning over the scene to them. At the same time a spotter with the shooter might be beneficial for communication. If I were on the scope, I don't want to be distracted.
Keith, we've been considering a rifle, and this is solid information. It's been in the works, and out of caution, we haven't made that step. This will help a lot
I submit any discharge of a weapon, long gun or other, in your church runs the risk of ending that church. Even if everything is done right, the church and you can still be sued and probably will be. We must be concerned with personal liability for failure to train as leaders/trainers and individuals on the security team. This comes down to doing it right and to the best standards you can complete giving your financial support and personnel limitations. Large churches and mega churches are going to have different resources than a small or medium sized church. You’re going to have to do the best you can with what you have. Rifles may not be in the cards for your church. IMHO
I agree. This article was written because there are many churches that are allowing rifles with no guard rails whatsoever. I’m trying to provide that. I’m hoping that those churches look at what you need to do to make them realize if that is possible or not.
Keith a well written and thought out article, thank you. A PDW is another approach.
PDW’s will be addressed in an upcoming article! It’s already on the road map
outstanding, I'm currently deploying a PDW.
Just thinking affordability for most of the rest of us: how much do you have invested in your "Daniel Defense short barreled rifle with a Thunder Beast Arms silencer. It is equipped with a surefire light with a pressure switch and an infrared laser and an EO Tech red dot"?
Then as you said, it would be confiscated after an incident, only to be returned in what... well over a year in California? In the meantime just go out and buy another one?
If you have to use it at church, you’re gonna want the best that you have. With that said if you have Right To Bear coverage, they will replace your firearm. There is a link for a discount if you go to the graphic, I have in this article at the top
Wow, wow.. the enormity of the responsibility is paramount if a rifle is to be used. The operator MUST know that and understand that he has not only lives in his hand but also the church’s future. The gravity of the responsibility is paramount , a baseline not to be taken lightly.
Given my teams lack of training with handguns adding rifles is out of the question. I bring my personal rifle to church and secure it in my vehicle fortunately I'm always able to get there early and park right outside the back door I also took a carbine course this year when I decided I wanted to have access to a rifle at church.
I constantly stress to our team members that they hold the life of the church in their hand. Deploying a weapon at the wrong time or in the wrong circumstances will have a massive negative impact on the congregation and will likely drive a significant number of people to worship elsewhere, not to mention possible legal consequences. This being so, just imagine what a "friendly fire" incident would do. Another point to consider is whether there is a suitable backstop behind the threat. Is there a solid wall which will stop a bullet, or are there several walls made of drywall? Will a missed shot penetrate the wallboard and kill a child in the nursery, or your friend's spouse?
I am a two tour Vietnam veteran. I know the stress involved in an active shooting scenario. I would be very careful who was on the rifle at church. I head up the Watchers Ministry in our church and I have reserved the role of the man on the rifle for myself. I have an active duty Police officer with a SWAT training as backup for my position. I know this man not only knows how to use a rifle, but when it becomes necessary to use it. This a role which should be taken with the training and the right mental and emotional discipline. It is not for everyone.
I train with Able Shepherd training center in Centennial Colorado. The upper levels train with both Rifle and pistol. If you have never checked them out I highly recommend this training
I met them at shot show. They seem like a great group.
This is a good start and I look forward to reading the following articles. This is something we have been thinking about and discussing for a while, but we are still trying to nail down policies that are needed prior to implementation. Thanks!
I haven’t heard anything about the cause of the vast majority of violent deaths in churches: abortion. The scenarios you focus on might cause 10 deaths per year. Abortions by evangelical Christians in the USA are likely 100,000. We’re wasting our time here.
Then that’s a failure of our pastors. That’s not a failure of church security teams.
Pastors are the primary culprits, but do us on the security teams do anything about it?
Pastors usually go with the flow just like they did with slavery and Naziism. Let’s stand up like men and stop the abortion massacre.
Great article! I think it’s important for whoever mans a rifle to also put on a high visibility vest that says “Security” to help other security team members, concealed carriers, and first responders identify them as a good guy to avoid confusion. Also, you can have one mag of ammunition with hollow points to use to defend against an attacker who is not wearing body armor and a mag with armor piercing rounds if the attacker is wearing body armor. Thanks!
I'll go a step further. Any armed response should have at least two visible to the public and law enforcement identification pieces. I have supplied our team with high visibility wrist slaps (Most LE use them already), a badge that has a lanyard that goes over the neck when responding, and a high vis sash from DSM Safety products. Each person must, as soon as possible, deploy at least two of the three for their safety. As far as the ammunition, train your guys to use a failure to stop technique with a quality ammo, shouldn't be an issue! Good luck.