Church Security Review: House of Worship Firearms and Use of Force Policy
One of the first responsibilities of a church security/safety team director is to set in writing the policies and procedures of the team to provide clarity in direction and purpose for church leadership and members to exercise sound judgment in the daily security and safety of the church.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Checklist: Church Security/Safety Equipment ]
Policies explain what and why things are done. Procedures explain how things are done. The wide-ranging document typically covers a broad range of categories, including fire, medical, lost child, and more. A model can be found at Southern Mutual Church Insurance Company and a guide is at Sheepdog Church Security and at Christian Warrior Training.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Church Security Book Review: Defending the Flock ]
In addition to writing a safety manual that covers general topics for your team, another best practice is to create a separate document dedicated to explaining specifically when and what type of force should and should not be used, since violent bad actors seem to be increasingly targeting houses of worship. Armed congregant security teams, especially, should have written policies regarding their firearms training and the use of non-lethal or less-lethal force methods as well.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Organizing, Training & Running a House of Worship Armed Congregant Security Team ]
Emanuel Kapelsohn, an honors graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School who has practiced law since 1978 in New York, Pennsylvania, and other states, and who is president of The Peregrine Corporation, has created the House of Worship Firearms Use of Force Policy (as a service to SemperVerus readers, Mr. Kapelsohn is making this policy bundle available at a $25 discount from the regular price of $424.50. Order the bundle here. Then, on the checkout page, simply type in the discount promo code SEMPERVERUS25).
SemperVerus received a complimentary copy of the House of Worship Firearms Use of Force Policy for review purposes.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, A Treasure Trove of Gun Information: The Defensive Use of Firearms Website ]
Written by one of the country’s leading firearms instructors, expert witnesses, and use-of-force experts with over 40 years’ experience training thousands of law enforcement and security officers, firearms instructors, and armed citizens—including house of worship armed congregant security teams—this product includes a comprehensive, customizable computer-fillable 34-page sample Policy document, 22 pages of explanatory comments by the author to help you understand the purpose and significance of various Policy sections, and an introduction that encourages you to consult with your church attorney and insurance company representative when customizing the Policy for your house of worship to certify that the Policy conforms to your state and local laws. The author specifically states that “this Policy is not legal advice” and that “it’s meant to provide essential education, guidance, and information in forming, training, and supervising an armed congregant security team.”
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Tactical Training for Individuals and Church Security Teams to Thwart Active Violence Incidents (Part 2) ]
Right from the start, it’s evident that this attentively crafted Policy sample is carefully and thoughtfully written, thoroughly covering every aspect of use-of-force possibilities within the church setting. To illustrate the wealth of information presented, here are brief excerpts from a few sections, beginning with explaining the value of human life—
“The Team Member shall exercise [the power to protect or take human life or cause grievous injury] with appropriate restraint and good judgment, with respect for the rights of all members of society, and with due regard for the value of all human life”
moving on to defining important words and phrases—
“‘Deadly force’ is force which, under the circumstances in which it is used, is readily capable of causing death or serious bodily injury. ‘Non-Deadly Force’ shall mean the application of physical effort or means unlikely/unintended to cause death or serious bodily injury used to control a subject’s actions and movements”
purpose and priorities—
“The purpose for which the Team Member is armed is primarily to help ensure the safety of the congregation by acting as a deterrent to violence and crime, and secondarily for the purpose of defending himself and others in the event defensive action is necessary”
authorized firearms—
“Armed Team Members shall use handguns manufactured by Glock, Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Sig Sauer, Beretta, H&K, Kahr, Kimber, Walther, Colt, Springfield, Staccato, or another reputable manufacturer”
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Church Security Armament Recommendations By Tom Givens, John Correia, and 6 Other Professionals ]
and more. Here’s the extensive Table of Contents:
- Purpose of Policy
- Value of Human Life
- Policy Violations
- Definitions
- Purpose and Priorities of the Team Member
- The Law Regarding Justifiable Use of “Reasonable Force””
- Use of Non-Deadly Force
- Use of Deadly Force
- Fleeing Suspects
- Holding Suspects for the Police
- [Name of House of Worship] Policy May Be More Restrictive Than [name of state where HOW is located] Law
- Elements of Justification for Use of Deadly Force
- Force Continuum
- No Need to Attempt Each of the Force Continuum Steps in Ascending Order
- No Need for the Team Member to Use Force “Equal” to the Attacker’s Force, or to Use “Minimal Force”
- Consideration of Tactical Factors
- Permitted Escalation, and Required De-Escalation, of Force
- Team Member Factors, Subject Factors, Situational Factors
- No Requirement to Endanger Own Life or Life of Another Person
- Policy Specifics: Use of Non-Deadly Force
- Situations in Which Non-Deadly Force Shall Not Be Used
- Reporting and Review of Incidents Involving Use of Non-Deadly Force
- Policy Specifics: Use of Deadly Force
- Discharging Firearms and Use of Deadly Force
- Duty to Retreat
- Team Member’s Obligation to Render First Aid to Criminal Attacker
- Preservation of Evidence
- Reporting and Review of Incidents Involving Deadly Force or Firearms Discharge
- Authorized Firearms, Ammunition, and Related Equipment
- Holsters
- Maintenance of Firearms and Ammunition
- Carrying of Firearms
- Handling of Firearms
- Firearms Training and Qualification
- Initial Training
- Periodic Firearms Training and Qualification
- Mandatory Annual Use of Force Training
- Personal Safety Equipment
- Failure to Qualify
- Suspension or Removal of [name of security team] Member or Placement on Limited Duty
- Firearms Instructors
- Written Records
- Pepper Gel
- Deviations from and Exceptions to This Policy
- Allowance for Extraordinary or Unforeseen Circumstances
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Church Security Team Pistol Qualification Course ]
The explanatory comments document briefly advises on flashlights, body armor, knives, back-up guns, and shoulder weapons. And its suggested reading list includes the titles of 33 helpfully insightful articles and books on defensive and situational awareness research and practices, such as Left of Bang and On War.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, The 5 Lines of Defense in Church Security, Beginning Outside ]
The Policy bundle price may appear expensive, but Mr. Kapelsohn says it is the result of over 100 hours of work over many months in which he sought and obtained input from respected colleagues. The Policy has been in successful use for about eight years by several houses of worship and large corporate entities with proprietary security forces, for whom he provides training and consulting. Amortized over even one year, this document, with its meticulous attention to scope and detail, can easily be seen to pay for itself in clarity, confidence, and peace of mind.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, The 5 Elements of Self-Defense Law ]
It concludes with the strong recommendation to consult with your house of worship’s legal counsel, or another attorney knowledgeable in the issues of concealed carry, firearms licensing, firearms and use-of-force training, use of deadly force in defense of self and others, and other issues involved in the operation of an armed congregant security team in your state. It also strongly recommends that you discuss your Team and your proposed customized policy with your house of worship’s insurance carrier, to ensure that nothing in the policy you create, or in your Team’s intended method of operation, run afoul of the provisions in your church’s insurance coverage.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Chart: The Spectrum of Potential Threat Personas in Self-Defense and Church Security ]
SemperVerus highly endorses House of Worship Firearms Use of Force Policy as an exceptional resource for church security teams. Purchase it here with a $25 discount by using the promo code SEMPERVERUS25.
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