AMAZING GRACE: This is what church security ministry looks like

Since the dawn of time there has been a roaring lion seeking to destroy good. He used to prowl like a shadow in the dark, but his attacks are now openly displayed every day. As the moral compass in America lost its own north, he crept into our sanctuaries. By the end of the 20th century, we were seeing too many violent attacks on concentrated defenseless groups to ignore it anymore. Lives have been taken and lives have been shattered by the immoral decay of the nation turned into violence in our most sacred places. Responsible defenders across America were compelled to do something about it. As the pages turned from the 20th to the 21st century, we began to hear the term, church security. At first, church security seemed a contradiction of terms to some. Enduring ridicule, lectures on passiveness, misrepresentation of scriptures (“turn the other cheek”) and cute little comments (“who would Jesus shoot”?), defenders continue to improve readiness. That endeavor is often met by arrogant mindsets that everything is fine; no need for any additional programs. Safety and security is essential. Intentional security is now accepted by most faith-based leaders in the country. But something is missing. As disparate efforts develop across the U.S., there are no standards, little agreement on what those standards should look like and even if they are needed. Of 350,00 – 400,000 congregations in the U.S., some growing percentage are recognizing the importance of intentional readiness and developing security programs. That is often done from scratch, led by one person or a handful of folks with different levels of personal experience, expertise or excitement. Think About it The Faith Based Security Network is dedicated to the safety and security of faith-based organizations by being an organized national network of the security operators and law enforcement professionals serving those organizations. Members come together in forum groups, on-line discussion events and subject matter presentations to learn from each other. It is not a group following any one or small assembly of opinions. It is a connected association, using collective acumen to get better at protection. If you are one of those responsible defenders working to keep your church or ministry safe, please get connected. Go to https://www.fbsnamerica.com/join-the-membership today to learn more about membership. We are better together, and we need you.

An old joke says, “Experience is that thing that helps you recognize a mistake when you make it again.” That seems to be the case when considering armed defenders. Many resist it out of a fear that an armed defender, who is not “credentialed” (meaning, by most, law-enforcement certified or otherwise licensed for protection), would accidently hurt innocents in a protective action. Most opposed to armed defenders, carry their concern further, to anyone, regardless of credentials. This Think About It commentary runs publicly every weekend and has since 2011. Thousands have read it in one of the many places it is published. I am asking a question to the entire audience of readers. Can any one of you name a time when an armed uncredentialed defender, acting in official capacity of an American church, school or any other business, accidently hurt innocent people while trying to protect others during an attack? Anyone? There are hundreds of times innocent people died in a church, school or business (or even on a military installation) with no armed defender between them and the killer. In 1991, the United / Norwest Bank of Denver issued a policy stripping all armed guards of their firearms. Two months later (on Father’s Day, June 16th, 1991) a still unknown armed assailant, with considerable knowledge of the bank and security operations, killed 4 helpless guards and escaped with $200,000 in cash. Immediately the bank re-instated armed guards. In 2020, based on George Floyd fallout, Denver Public Schools removed armed guards (who were credentialed as described above) from all campuses. On March 22nd of this year, a student killed two faculty members at Denver’s East High School. One day later the Denver School board unanimously re-instated armed guards (quickly stressing it was only a temporary measure). Really? For the first time, I agree with Denver Mayor Michael Hancock on security. He stated, “Removing them [armed guards] was a mistake,” and “we must move swiftly to correct it.”   Think About it. Why does America keep making the same mistake of listening to the wrong people for advice on security? What does Alec Baldwin (for example) know about guns or security? I offer three words. Responsible armed defenders. Understanding there is work to do in defining responsible. In the meantime, killers keep bringing weapons as policy makers keep taking them away from defenders. Who’s helping who?