Quote:
Originally Posted by JPhillips
There are 350000 or so religious congregations in the United States. Let's say you could figure out a way to cover every service with one guard per congregation, so 350000 armed, trained security guards. There are less than 670000 police officers in the United States. Where are these people coming from? And don't forget that you need multiple guards for each of the 130000 or so schools in the United States. This idea is going to need at least a million new armed, trained guards.
I'm an elder in my church, so I know our budget problems well, and we're very similar to tens of thousands of other congregations. Let's say we can find a part-time guard for every service at the incredibly reasonable cost of 10000 a year. That would mean we end our local and global mission work and put all that money and more towards a security guard. Not only would we feel like a bunker, we'd basically be that as our connection to the rest of the world would completely end.
Even if you accept the very problematic issue of worshipping in an armed environment, the practical realities make this and arming school guards terrible ideas.
|
I'm willing to bet most protestant churches in TX (and other gun friendly states) already have armed guards free of charge.
Would you consider asking some in your congregation (former vets with no PTSD, former cops etc.) to do conceal carry and be that "last line of defense"?
I would guess not and would then ask why would an equally "religious, moral, ethical" pastor in TX allow it? Interesting question to consider the differences in POV.