Mitigating Attacks on Houses of Worship Security Guide

Terrorists, criminals, anarchists, and disrupters are attacking houses of worship (HoW). They assume HoW are soft targets; gun-free zones where media coverage and notoriety can be easily achieved through defenseless active killing.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, A List of Active Killer Incidents at Houses of Worship and Religious Schools ]

In response, more HoW are establishing and training their own armed volunteer security teams.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Enroll in the Sheepdog Church Security Academy Safety Member Certification Program ]

One resource for these teams is the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)‘s 116-page PDF, Mitigating Attacks on Houses of Worship Security Guide.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Organizing, Training & Running a House of Worship Armed Congregant Security Team ]

In it, CISA recommends the following:
•  Establish a multi-layered plan for security, identifying clear roles and responsibilities for developing and implementing security measures.

•  Create emergency action plans, business continuity plans, and incident response plans that are well communicated and exercised with the Safety Team for complete understanding.

•  Conduct a vulnerability assessment to understand the risks to the house of worship from which you may prioritize implementing any subsequent safety measures.

•  Build community readiness and resilience by establishing an organizational culture of caring where all members and visitors are properly supported, and credible threats are reported through previously identified channels.

•  Apply physical security measures to monitor and protect the outer, middle, and inner perimeters, while respecting the purpose of each area of the house of worship.

•  Focus on the safety of children by implementing safety measures around childcare, daycare, and schools.

•  Implement cybersecurity best practices to safeguard important information and prevent a potential cyberattack.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, The 5 Lines of Defense in Church Security, Beginning Outside ]

Along with the security guide, CISA has also produced the single sheet, Six Steps to Enhance Security Against Targeted Violence, and the illustrated flyer, Perimeter Security Considerations.

— Get the SemperVerus booklet, The Case for Biblical Self-Defense —

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