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DHS Outlines Steps Houses of Worship Can Take To Protect Themselves

To “mitigate the threat of targeted violence and prepare for potential incidents” against churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released Dec. 6, 2023 the PDF guide, Physical Security Performance Goals for Faith-Based Communities, which outlines measures “faith-based communities” can take to protect themselves from current vicious tensions.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Church Security Book Review: Defending the Flock ]

This guide comes as reported hate crimes have spiked since the onset of the war between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, according to FBI Director Christopher Wray.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, A Prayer for Church Security Team Members ]

DHS emphasized in its 2024 Homeland Threat Assessment that the danger of violence from individuals radicalized in the United States will “remain high . . . marked by lone offenders or small group attacks that occur with little warning.”

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Chart: The Spectrum of Potential Threat Personas in Self-Defense and Church Security ]

The 16-page document examines threats and vulnerabilities to provide targeted strategies organized by the functional categories of Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. It also includes a glossary of security-related words and phrases, and links to multiple resources under each category. Here are some of the guide’s recommendations:

Criminals and Terrorists Overwhelmingly Select Gun-Free Zones For Mass Attacks in Public Spaces

Findings from the Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC) show that 94% of mass shootings over a 69-year period occurred in “gun-free zones,” locations where signs are posted stating weapons are not allowed to be carried on the property, which only responsible law-abiding citizens abide by and criminals see as magnets for their murderous intent since they know their killing will go unchallenged.

In recent testimony before the Maryland Senate, John R. Lott, Jr., CPRC president, said, “When Americans are allowed to legally carry concealed handguns, they stop about half the active shooting attacks in the US.”

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Brief Answers for People Who Are Against the 2nd Amendment ]

Continuing, he said, “It is hard to ignore that these mass public shooters purposefully pick targets where they know their victims cannot protect themselves. Yet, the media refuses to discuss that these mass murderers often discuss in their diaries and manifestos how they pick their targets. For example, the Buffalo mass murderer last year wrote in his manifesto explaining why he chose the target that he did: ‘Areas where CCW are outlawed or prohibited may be good areas of attack’ and ‘Areas with strict gun laws are also great places of attack.’ That is a common theme among mass murderers. These killers may be crazy, but they aren’t stupid. Their goal is to get media coverage, and they know that the more people they kill, the more media attention they will receive. And if they go to a place where their victims are defenseless, they will be able to kill more people.”