Some people in leadership at churches still question why it’s necessary to have an armed and trained church security/safety team as part of their dedicated ministry efforts.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Active Killer Advice Compendium ]
The following list should be reason enough:
[ Bookmark the SemperVerus CHURCH SECURITY INTELLIGENCE CLIPBOARD ]
• Undisclosed church, Venice, Florida, Aug. 11, 2026
A 19-year-old male, with a grievance against a local church, was planning to take hostages during an active killing at the facility. He was arrested and charged with making written threats to kill, threats to bomb or conduct a mass shooting, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Checklist: Questions to Ask During a Bomb Threat Call ]
• St. John’s Lutheran Church, Effingham, Illinois, July 5, 2026
Sunday morning before the worship service, a 36-year-old man from St. Charles, Missouri, entered the church and asked to speak with the pastor. Church security personnel called police to communicate their suspicions about the man and his vehicle in the church parking lot. Law enforcement responded and discovered that the vehicle had been reported stolen. During the struggle, when police attempted to restrain the man, he produced a firearm, which discharged, and he was struck. He died the next day.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Prepare for Teams of Terrorists, Says Gabe Suarez ]
• Wesley Memorial Church, High Point, North Carolina, June 28, 2026
An armed 44-year-old man wearing camouflage clothing and body armor sat in his truck in the parking lot during the morning service. An observant person called 911, and an off-duty officer working at the church immediately responded to the parking lot. Additional officers arrived, disarmed the man, and took him into custody without incident. Upon searching his truck, officers found 2 flamethrowers, 2 crossbows, 3 knives, 500+ rounds of ammunition, a CO2-powered launcher, designed to resemble a handgun, rolls of black duct tape, oxycodone pills, and a notebook containing the addresses of churches, schools, and public buildings. The man, who authorities say has experience with bombs, also had two radios with police scanners, GPS coordinates, handcuffs and keys, and a copy of the North Carolina Tactical Interoperability Guide marked public safety sensitive.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Interview With Active Shooter Incident Expert, Lt. Col. Ed Monk ]
• Islamic Center of San Diego, San Diego, California, May 18, 2026
Just before noon on the first day of Dhul Hijjah, a sacred period in the Islamic year, two males, 17 and 18 years old, wearing camouflage clothing, fatally shot a security guard and two staff members outside the largest mosque in San Diego, which includes a pre-K through 3rd-grade Islamic school. Both killers were found in a car a few blocks away, dead from self-inflicted gunshots.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Interview With Police Trainer, Ron Borsch, on Church Security Teams Stopping Active Killer Incidents ]
• Congregation Beth Israel synagogue, Houston, Texas, Apr. 23, 2026
A juvenile and an 18-year-old female were arrested in Lexington, North Carolina, after allegedly planning a mass casualty attack on a Jewish day school in Houston, Texas. Court documents show that the conspiracy the female was allegedly planning was to “kill as many Jews as possible by driving through a congregation at a synagogue.”
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Recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005, Paul Harvey (1918–2009) was a famous American journalist and commentator for ABC News Radio known for his distinctive voice, conservative viewpoint, and unique daily sign-off: “Paul Harvey…[LONG PAUSE]…Good Day!”
