Articles with church security

Intel & Tactics to Defend Against Drone Threats

To meet the challenges of drone warfare, the Pentagon’s Joint Interagency Task Force–401 (JIATF 401) has published the 89-page Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Quick Reference Guide, a collection of intelligence and tactics surrounding the use of weaponized and military drones that is also applicable to civilian domestic threats, including church security.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, The Increasing Threat of Drones to Church Security ]

The guide begins with an overview by Matthew Ross, Brigadier General, US Army, director, Joint Interagency Task Force 401: “The proliferation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) is changing the character of warfare and creating new challenges at home and abroad. Drones are increasingly capable, accessible, and adaptable, giving state and non-state actors the ability to conduct surveillance, disrupt operations, and deliver lethal effects. The threat is evolving rapidly, and our defenses must evolve with it.”

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Religious Organizations Among Targets for Chinese Cyber Threats

Malicious cyber activity enabled by the Integrity Technology Group (Integrity Tech)—a China-based company with ties to the Chinese government—is globally targeting religious, law enforcement, and education organizations, as well as entities in the fields of government services and facilities, critical manufacturing, healthcare and public health, and information technology US critical infrastructure sectors, according to a joint advisory by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), FBI, National Security Agency (NSA), and international partners.

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Synagogue Suing Maryland County Over the Right of Armed Self Protection

Three years after the October 7, 2023, surprise antisemitic multi-pronged invasion and massacre across 119 locations in Israel by 6,000 militants and civilians of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and allied armed groups from the Gaza Strip—killing at least 1,195 people, wounding roughly 3,400 people, and abducting 251 as hostages—the Orthodox Jewish congregation, known as Congregation Ahavas Yisrael, in the Washington, DC, suburb of Silver Spring, Maryland, prompted by that atrocity, has five trained congregants on its security team who carry guns.

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Lessons from Executive Protection to Adapt to Church Security

What can past attacks teach us about protecting executives today? The report, Historical Patterns in Attacks on Executives: Threats Exposure and Protective Strategy by Joe LaSorsa of LaSorsa & Associates, examines recurring motives, vulnerabilities, and practical lessons for security teams, such as:

  • Visibility, predictable routines, and access help shape an executive’s exposure.
  • Threats can involve overlapping motives, including grievance, financial gain, and ideology.
  • Digital privacy and physical security need to work together.
  • Protection plans should include family support, medical response, and business continuity.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Protection Book Review: Just 2 Seconds ]

While the report focuses on violent incidents in the corporate and political worlds—involving Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, J. Paul Getty III, Ronald Reagan, and others—the defensive principles extracted from these executive protection attacks can be applied to church security environments—including ministry leaders, congregational attendees, and the church building—such as the following:

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Enhance Your Self-Defense and Church Security Training With the ASP Unlimited App (Review)

ASP Unlimited is the membership app of Active Self Protection, founded by John Correia. ASP’s mission is to “help others develop the Attitude, Skills, and Plan to better protect themselves and their loved ones from harm” through research-informed evidence-based lessons.

[ Bookmark the SemperVerus CHURCH SECURITY INTELLIGENCE CLIPBOARD ]

A fee-based subscription service for either iPhone or Android, ASP Unlimited gives you access to the entire Active Self Protection library—featuring John Correia, Neil Weidner, Stephannie Weidner, and the entire ASP team.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Interview With John Correia of Active Self Protection About Church Security Teams ]

This video and text content is rich in self-defense education, equipping you with the mindset, skillset, and toolset to safeguard you, your loved ones, and your congregation if you’re a member of your church security team.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Self-Defense and Church Security Lessons by John Correia Reviewing an Attempted Carjacking ]

Church security team members should regularly watch ASP’s video analyses to learn defensive principles they can apply in their church contexts. As John Correia says, “While we do cover church incidents when they arise, the main value for church safety teams in learning from the daily ASP analyses is to have mental reps of real situations that happened to real people, giving team members a broad experience of actual incidents to draw from in their own encounters.”

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