Just curious how many of your church's have an organized security plan? We attend a larger church in a rural area, real police response would likely be 20+ mins. I'm sure some other people carry but I don't really know who. It's been on my mind lately and I've started carrying a compact 9mm instead of a 380 but I still would feel terribly outmatched if someone ever walked in with a rifle.

I plan on bringing this up to the elders, are there any resources online for this type of thing or how did you come up with a plan if you do have one in place?

I watched the Christ Church Mosque shooting in New Zealand a few times. The shooter pulls up with a car, gets out and empties a shotgun with buckshot into the greeters at the door and then proceeds inside. In a case like that everyone who is carrying better get to the entry doors fast to prevent the shooter from entering the building. Watching the video made me realize there should be a actual plan in place.

I've been carrying a M&P 9mm compact with 12+1 and I feel like I should also start carrying a spare 17 round mag with me, I haven't done that yet though.

Our county police Department is working county wide with all the churches on plans in case something happens.

Guessing you've also been "Culturally enriched" with Somali Muslims? That's my biggest fear, multiple people working together walking in with rifles through different doors.

I am not a regular church-goer but my youngest daughter is. I have attended quite a few events with her at her church, mostly game dinners and pinewood derby races.

It is an interesting congregation, mostly younger, conservative folks that are into hunting and firmly believe in a persons right to self-defense.

My daughter tells me that many of them carry concealed, perhaps even the majority. I know that's not an organized security plan but I think business would be handled quickly and effectively if a situation were to arise.

It's a very good idea to make plans. In Europe, in:

"2023: 2,444 anti-Christian hate crimes (including 232 personal attacks on individuals). France had nearly 1,000; UK >700; Germany 277 (up 105% from 2022). Many involved churches/cemeteries (vandalism, desecration, theft).

2024: 2,211 anti-Christian hate crimes (slight drop, partly due to incomplete UK data excluding London and temporary dip in France). Included 274 personal attacks (up from 232) and 94 arson attacks on churches/Christian sites (nearly double the prior year; ~33 in Germany alone). France, UK, Germany, Spain, and Austria had the highest totals. OIDAC independently verified 516 core hate crimes + 1,503 when including thefts/break-ins at religious sites.

2025: No full-year OIDAC report yet (as of April 2026). Partial data shows continued or rising incidents in key countries (e.g., France recorded 401 anti-Christian acts in the first half of 2025, up 13% from the same period in 2024). Early 2026 monthly monitoring by OIDAC shows dozens more per month targeting worship sites."

The vast majority of the attacks, when the perpetrators were known, were by Muslims.

In the US:

2023: 485 incidents (record high; more than double 2022's 198). This was part of a sharp rise since 2018 (when totals were much lower, around 50).

2024: 415 incidents affecting 383 churches (slight decline but still far above pre-2022 levels). Breakdown: 284 vandalism, 55 arson/fires, 28 gun-related, 14 bomb threats, 47 other (assaults, disruptions, threats). Incidents occurred in 43 states; California and Pennsylvania led. At least ~100 involved Catholic sites.

2025: No full-year FRC report available as of April 2026. Partial data and anecdotal reports suggest continued incidents, but no comprehensive total yet. FBI data for 2024/early 2025 periods show hundreds of religion-based hate crimes overall, with anti-Christian bias as a small fraction compared to anti-Jewish (vast majority of religious hate crimes).

Canada hides the numbers, but proportionately has a much greater problem.

"Canada lacks an equivalent nationwide annual church-attack tracker like FRC. Data focuses on broader hate crimes or specific waves (e.g., post-2021 residential school announcements):

Church arsons/vandalism: A significant spike occurred from 2021 onward, linked largely to anger over residential school gravesite discoveries (many involving Catholic/Christian institutions historically tied to Indigenous communities). Estimates: 80–100+ churches burned or vandalized since 2021 (through ~2024), with ~24–44 confirmed arsons and others suspicious/accidental. CBC investigations and advocacy groups (e.g., Catholic Civil Rights League) documented dozens of fires, especially in 2021–2023. Some involved First Nations or multicultural parishes.

2023–2025 hate crimes: Statistics Canada reported ~4,828–4,882 total hate crimes annually (stable/slight rise in 2024 after sharp prior increases). Religion-based: ~1,342–1,345 in 2023–2024 (mostly anti-Jewish ~70%, anti-Christian/Catholic a small share, e.g., dozens). Mischief/vandalism against religious property is common, but anti-Christian incidents are not the majority. Toronto Police (one detailed municipal report) showed religion as a top bias category, with vandalism predominant, but low specific anti-Christian counts relative to anti-Jewish or others"

When you let Muslims into your country, whose religion demands they kill Christians, there is of course going to be attacks on Christian churches, because they know practicing Christians can be killed there in large numbers.

Keith

We have watchmen who are armed . I am one of them. We like to have 4 every Sunday. One in the lobby, one in the kids area and two in the sanctuary. We are also present at special events.

I know there are at least a couple who carry every Sunday at our church, but nothing organized.

I'll bet there wouln't be nearly the anti Christian crimes in churches in Europe if folks there had 2A rights.
It would not surprise me if a large percentage of religious hate crimes in the USA were directed towards Jewish folks, they are generally not gun owners, but I think that is changing.

I think the biggest hurdle in an active shooter or shooters is if people start trying to run out instead of hitting the floor. Might hinder those who carry from getting a clear shot. Definitely a place that would be higher on the list of where most people would encounter a person intent on doing bodily harm to others. One thing i noticed in the TX shooting a few years back, is that the shooter waited until everyone was praying to make his move. They thought he was suspicious and several of their security team was watching him but I believe he still killed two people before they took him out with one well placed shot. I wonder despite them thinking he was suspicious if the guys watching him out of habit closed their eyes and bowed their heads to pray. Something to think about if you have a suspicious person show up at church.

If anyone who's a established member and I am certain is over 18 I will send them the link to the Christ Church shooting, it's 100% Brutal and not great to watch but its informative.
Send me a PM if you want the link, YOU MUST BE ESTABLISSED MEMBER OVER 18!

I don't think anyone carries in our congregation. Pretty much be a turkey shoot if it ever happens. I don't even think our congregation would consider it because most of the folks are left of center.

They call him Big John?

Ours does. We have a security team. Cameras everywhere with someone monitoring them. Bunch of members armed.

We had a state patrolman give free CCW class to the church members back before covid when there was several shootings at churches.

I am not in the upper level of church happenings at our congregation, but more than once lately I really feel like I should be carrying. When I look around services I really do not see anyone that looks like they would be the type to carry. We are a congregation that is heavily skewed towards the elderly. Our current minister is very "accommodating" to ALL members of society so I feel like she would not be supportive of any formal type of concealed armed presence. I was literally one sermon aways from looking for a new church about this time last year as she had crossed the line from acceptance of others lifestyles to seemingly be in favor of actively seeking out those people to welcome them into our congregation.

I walk through looking if it could be done in every church I walk into.
This is why I pick our seats. Get there early, if they have a user,,,, as to sit in selected locations.

It would not be hard in most cases to inflict mass casualties IF a terrorist previously visited the location.

And ALWAYS carry extra clips

[video:youtube]https://youtu.be/qqlqmBi7uVI?si=Futd8tSLemmpA3N4[/video]

This is what I would use for the basis of church security. John Lovell is a pastor, did mission work and was a green beret. Our church security is in shambles currently. Too many egos involved. Guys were too proud to shoot a test target and run some basic safety stuff. I’d like to lead ours someday but currently leading a young adults ministry and helping the mens group as much as possible.

Yikes. What kind of church is left of center in AR? I can't quite comprehend that. Maybe Bill and Hillary's?