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How can churches welcome all and keep flocks safe? Date published: 7/30/2008
BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE
Many consider church a sanctuary. Security experts consider it a soft target. "Criminals know there will be very little resistance, very little preparation, very little security," said Jeff Hawkins, author of "An Introduction to Security & Emergency Planning for Faith-Based Organizations." And Sunday, an armed attacker took advantage of that opportunity, killing two people and wounding seven at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville, Tenn. He opened fire during a Sunday morning children's production of "Annie." This shooting is the 17th major church shooting in the United States since 1998. Statistically, church shootings are rare, said Clint Van Zandt, a former FBI agent and a Spotsylvania County resident. People face more danger in their homes than in churches, said Tod Burke, a professor of criminal justice at Radford University in /Southwestern Virginia. "But there have been enough incidents to make people wonder, 'Am I safe?'" Van Zandt said. Churches could lock everyone in to keep criminals out, Burke said. But that creates a fire hazard. "And what happens if you come late to church?" he asked. Some churches now have armed security guards, sometimes members of the congregation who work in law enforcement. Such a guard shot a gunman in a Colorado church last year. Could worshippers be subject to searches and metal detectors before entering sanctuaries? Yes, said Hawkins, who also heads security for the Creation Museum in Kentucky. Twenty years ago, schools with metal detectors would have seemed an impossibility. But now, schools and even theme parks scan people before they enter, Hawkins said. Such a scenario defeats the purpose of a church, said Teresa Pagliaro, a Fredericksburg defense attorney and member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fredericksburg. "You can't stop this kind of mental health issue by closing our doors and screening who comes into our churches," she said at a candlelight vigil held at the fellowship's building on Caroline Street in Fredericksburg to honor the Tennessee victims. "That is not part of our beliefs." Those beliefs were under attack Sunday. The gunman picked the Knoxville congregation partly because of its liberal religious views. Unitarian Universalists believe in "the inherent worth and dignity of everyone," said the Rev. Jeff Jones, pastor of the Fredericksburg fellowship. Congregations are known for accepting people of different religions and those in same-sex relationships. "It's almost a paradox, we want to be welcoming and open to everyone," Jones said. "But we want to create a safe place." He led last night's vigil, which more than 50 people attended. They prayed, sang and shared their thoughts. Then, they ended the service by singing "Tomorrow" from "Annie." "The sun will come out tomorrow, "Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, "There will be sun " Amy Flowers Umble:
Date published: 7/30/2008
He has an agenda just like his opposite number on the right...they both just want to win and the best way to do so is to demonize the enemy. Everyone does it no matter their political outlook; he just does it very well.
The lady who stopped the Colorado shooter did not currently work for law enforcement in any capacity. She was a parishioner -- a private citizen with a gun. I sense a little unease in the MSP dealing with the fact that a civilian with a gun averted a tragedy rather than causing it. I guess that pretending she was a cop allows them to rationalize their beliefs that guns are inherently evil unless wielded by the police and military.
Congregations should take comfort that others around them have been granted permission to carry by the King himself! (CCW permits) Now to convince churches that having a few folks on site with this permit from the King is a good thing...
Or how about growing a backbone and stop being a pansy? It's obvious you are a part of the "they're haters" group. If someone doesn't see your point of view or agree with your agenda, they are haters, bigots, homophobes, xenophobes or any other 50 cent name you can conjure up. And I'm not too sure what a acapegoat is....maybe a goat with a superman cape?
Churches can't keep people safe anymore then the police can keep anyone safe. It doesn't work that way. Individuals need to take responsibility for their own safety, and act accordingly.
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