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On the Range

Weapons Training

Top view, flat lay of handguns bullets and yellow noise canceling headphones on paper shooting practice target.

This article is applicable to the Safety Member Certification training modules "Basic Use of Force Laws" and "Active Shooter Response."[1]

From the Bible

He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze (2 Samuel 22:35 and Psalm 18:34).

They were bowmen and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right or the left hand ... (1 Chronicles 12:2).

Introduction

A soldier comes home on leave to see his family before returning to active duty. His younger brother notices a pin on his uniform shaped like a Maltese cross with a hanger that reads, "Rifle."

"What's that?" the brother asks.

The soldier replies, "That's my marksmanship badge."

Members of the Armed Services are trained in using their weapons. Likewise, if your church safety team has armed members, they need to be trained in how and when to use their weapons. By the way, this means all weapons. Besides firearms and knives, this also includes less-lethal and non-lethal ones.

Training also includes the care of the weapon. Examples of the lack of this training are active shooters whose weapons malfunction during assaults. As defenders, we do not want our weapons to fail us when they are most needed.

In the News

Calhoun, Georgia, September 2015 - After a member shared his security concerns, a local church in Calhoun hosted a 22-hour course in firearms training and safety for several of its members.[2]

Ava, Missouri,2019, and Sutherland Springs, Texas, 2017 - Citing the increasing number of churches wanting armed security, NBC News took as an example a church in Ava, Missouri. The town's police chief, a member of the church, carries a handgun on Sundays, just as he does other days of the week. He is also a member of his church's volunteer security team. All members are armed. The team was formed after the pastor received threats which originated from a domestic dispute in the town.

The security team drills regularly. These drills include tactical shooting. An organization in the state specializes in training church teams.

The NBC article also cites what the pastor of First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs said. Because the church did not have a schedule for its armed members, no one in the church on November 5, 2017, had a gun. Therefore there was no armed resistance when the active shooter came in on that day. Since then, security has been strengthened in technology, in training, and in scheduling.[3]

Colorado Springs, Colorado, 2020 - A church in Colorado Springs trains its safety & security team members in live action drills with people playing the parts of threatening persons with various tactics and weapons. Team members are also armed with guns, knives, defensive sprays, and handcuffs or zip-ties.[4]

Adventist Risk Management, Inc., 2016 - The Insurance General of Adventist Risk Management (ARM) advises churches to have security plans and have congregants conduct emergency drills.

Because of legal issues when it comes to armed security, ARM advises churches to contract with a professional armed security service so that armed persons will not be considered agents of the congregation, and therefore of the conference. Consider this viewpoint in the light of ARM being the insurance provider and legal adviser for Adventist churches.

As to law enforcement officers who attend the church, the Insurance General advised churches to ask for a written statement from the officer's department stating that he or she is required to carry the weapon at all times.[5]

Christian Warrior Training, October 7, 2023 - In his guide for concealed carry in church security ministries, Keith Graves first quotes the verse where Jesus told his disciples to be prepared for being on the move and defending themselves from robbers - have a money bag, a knapsack, and a sword (Luke 22:36). Headings include

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, February 9, 2020 - During a Sunday morning service in a Lancaster County church, five of the security team members were in the security office. One member fired his weapon by accident. The bullet ricocheted off the concrete floor. Shrapnel hit another guard in the face. Fortunately, the injury was not serious.[7]

Aiming for Safety and Accuracy

Many states require juvenile applicants for hunting licenses to take a course in hunting safety, which includes firearms safety. This is also required by some states for first-time adult applicants. There are also states requiring a firearm safety course for concealed carry permits. It may seem obvious that you don't pull a pistol out of the holster with your finger on the trigger, yet there are still some people who shoot themselves in the foot this way. Therefore, it makes sense for a church safety ministry to require armed members to train in firearms safety.

Accuracy also a vital concern. When shooting to defend others, we want to hit the attacker, but no one else.

Weapons Safety

As mentioned in the Introduction, most states require juveniles applying for hunting licenses to take gun safety courses. Some states require or recommend that first-time adult applicants for hunting licenses also take classes in gun safety. Concealed carry permit applicants usually have to pass a gun safety class. Why? This is for the safety of both the applicants and others.

Before any Church Safety Team member is approved to carry a firearm on duty, he or she should know and practice firearms safety. Most counties have someone that teaches gun safety. The Safety Director should have a list of firearm safety instructors. A Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) course will include gun safety.[8]

The National Rifle Association (NRA) was first established to teach gun safety to hunters and other firearms users. NRA still does that today. On the NRA site you can find the "NRA Gun Safety Rules." These are for both handling and storing the weapons. Here are the three handling rules:

You will find these rules repeated or expanded on by other organizations, such as the National Shooting Sports Foundation.[9][10]

See to it that armed members of your Safety Team are trained in firearms safety. This should be repeated regularly so it says fresh in their minds. Having them train or coach others will help them keep it fresh.

Being on Target

Accuracy when shooting is a critical concern in an active killer event. First, the reason for shooting is to neutralize the threat. The second concern is avoiding hitting innocent persons. An example of this was Jack Wilson stopping the West Freeway shooter with one shot only six seconds after the assailant pulled out his shotgun.[11]

Accuracy is a product of both coaching and practice. Handgun drills on the firing range build and retain muscle memory for holding, aiming, and firing the weapon.

Beyond static shooting (hitting a stationary bulls-eye target) is tactical shooting. This is defensive shooting in an active killer incident. Several organizations describe tactical shooting and post recommended drills online. One example is Gunline Shooting* (remember, there are also others). It describes tactical shooting. Here is an outline:

Another site, 45 Blast,* describes drills for accuracy and speed, including two for tactical shooting. These are graded as Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced:

* We are not recommending these two sites, but are using them as examples of available training and drills. Others may be found in an online search.

There are firing ranges specially designed for tactical shooting. The purpose of a tactical shooting range is to duplicate situations which may be encountered by law enforcement, military members, and private security.[14] Tactical drills can be held in the church (with Air-Soft guns) so members know how to conduct an armed defense in the facility.[4]

The post on 45 Blast [13] names two tactical settings, shooting from cover and in low light. For a church's active killer incident, we also need to learn how to track and shoot with a crowd present, as Wilson did in the West Freeway incident, and how to herd the assailant into a fatal funnel and keep him/her away from populated sectors. This last one depends on the layout of the church.

Consideration is needed for the background, since our bullets can go through a wall into an occupied room, even after passing through an attacker's body. In the Lakewood Church shooting, the shooter's 7-year-old son was seriously wounded.[15] Did the responding security guards know he was there?

When and Where

Weapons of any kind, especially lethal ones, should be a last resort. The Use of Force Continuum was formulated to help law enforcement officers and security personnel visualize and consider all the available options for resolving situations, beginning with the least violent measures. Three of the five levels do not use weapons. What this means is that we should learn how to resolve potentially violent situations using the lowest effective level of force.

Training Requirements for Weapons Other Than Firearms

Even if not required by law, it is advisable to get training for pepper spray, tear gas, and stored charge weapons - also batons, if you have one. These are now classified as less lethal rather than non-lethal because of the potential for serious injury.

In some states, the use of non-firearm weapons and defensive devices is subject to regulations. For some devices training is required, especially for security or law enforcement personnel and for employees of governmental agencies. In some jurisdictions, this includes carrying or use for personal defense. Here are three examples from California and Texas:

City of Sacramento - City employees must complete a training course in the use of OC (pepper oil) and/or CS (tear gas) spray before they are allowed to carry it at work. If the spray has been issued by the city, it can only be used as part of the job.[16]

Texas Department of Public Safety - The State of Texas has training courses for private security personnel in the use of pepper spray. A minimum score on tests is required to obtain a permit.[17]

California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services - The State of California has several training courses for security guards, including for chemical agents (pepper spray, tear gas, etc.), firearms, batons, and stored charge devices (stun guns and Tasers).[18]

Training Resources

"Basic Use of Force Laws" and "Active Shooter Response" are two of the eight Safety Member Certification training modules. Passing all eight modules leads to a two-year certification as a safety member.[1]

Much can be learned from the articles "Self Defense Laws, Your Rights and Use of Force" and "Church Safety Teams and Active Shooter Training" on the original Sheepdog Church Security website at Church Security Guide ("Self Defense Laws, Your Rights and Use of Force" and "Church Safety: Active Killer Response Strategies" in Church Security Guide at The Sheepdog Sentinel on the Sheepdog Church Security Academy training website). These can be used to prep for the class, then afterwards used to review and refresh.[19][20][21]

Some manufacturers of defensive sprays have training programs for their use.

Free Downloads

We have two free downloads for you, Emergency Response Visualization Guide and Church Safety Walkthrough Checklist.

Emergency Response Visualization Guide is designed "to help you mentally prepare for a range of critical scenarios" and "provides practical tips for visualizing your actions, so you can stay calm and confident when seconds count." Click *HERE* to get it.

Church Safety Walkthrough Checklist is "a free, one-page guide with actionable steps to help you identify vulnerabilities and begin improving safety." It "makes it easier to start your safety journey with purpose and confidence." Click *HERE* to receive it.

* Quotes are from Sheepdog Church Security newsletters.

Conclusion

Train to gain proficiency with whatever weapons you might have to use in protecting the flock. Aim for safety and accuracy.

References

  1. Kris Moloney, "Basic Use of Force Laws" and "Active Shooter Response," Safety Member Certification, Sheepdog Church Security [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/bundles/safety-member-certification].
  2. Brandi Owczarz, "Local church offers firearms training to members," Calhoun Times, September 3, 2015 [https://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/calhoun_times/local-church-offers-firearms-training-to-members/article_e2e0b01a-5175-11e5-a051-cf4fdc891136.html].
  3. Mary Pflum, "Guns and God: Growing number of churches want armed security," NBC News, January 27, 2019 [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/guns-god-growing-number-churches-want-armed-security-n963031].
  4. Analysis by Paul Glader and Michael Ray Smith, "God And Guns: More Churches and Ministries Turn To Armed Security Teams for Protection," Ministry Watch (from Religion Unplugged), June 9, 2020 [https://ministrywatch.com/god-and-guns-more-churches-and-ministries-turn-to-armed-security-teams-for-protection/].
  5. Insurance General, "Firearms on Church Property," Adventist Risk Management, Inc, ©2016 [https://adventistrisk.org/Adventist_Risk/media/ARMSiteContent/Insurance/General%20Liability/IFS_FirearmsOnChurchProperty_NADENG.pdf?ext=.pdf].
  6. Keith Graves, "A Comprehensive Guide to Church Security Concealed Carry," Christian Warrior Training, October 7, 2023 [https://www.christianwarriortraining.com/p/a-comprehensive-guide-to-church-security].
  7. Meredith Jorgensen, "Church security guard injured in Lancaster County after another guard's gun was 'unintentionally discharged'," WGAL, February 10, 2020 [https://www.wgal.com/article/2-injured-in-accidental-shooting-according-to-lancaster-county-worship-center-facebook-page/30833276].
  8. As an example of one state's POST, the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board [https://post.az.gov/].
  9. Staff, "NRA Gun Safety Rules," National Rifle Association (NRA), Updated 2024 [https://gunsafetyrules.nra.org/].
  10. Anon, "Firearm Safety - 10 Rules of Safe Gun Handling," National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc, no date [https://www.nssf.org/safety/rules-firearms-safety/].
  11. WGV, "2019 West Freeway Church of Christ Shooting," Sheepdog Church Security, September 6, 2022 [https://sheepdogchurchsecurity.net/articles/2019-est-freeway-church-of-christ-shooting/].
  12. Anonymous, "Top Tactical Shooting Training Techniques for Beginners," Gunline Shooting, June 19, 2024 [https://gunlineshooting.com/announcements/top-tactical-shooting-training-techniques-for-beginners/].
  13. Andrew Britton, "Top 10 Pistol Shooting Drills to Boost Your Accuracy and Speed," 45 Blast, no date [https://45blast.com/blogs/news/top-10-pistol-shooting-drills-to-boost-your-accuracy-and-speed].
  14. Wayne Fletcher, "What is a tactical shooting range?" The Gun Zone, February 22, 2024 [https://thegunzone.com/what-is-a-tactical-shooting-range/].
  15. WGV, "Lakewood Church Shooting, 2024," Sheepdog Church Security, May 7, 2024 [https://sheepdogchurchsecurity.net/articles/lakewood-church-shooting/]; also posted as "Lakewood Church Tragedy: Lessons Learned on Safety, Security, and Mental Health," Lessons Learned, Sheepdog Security Academy, May 7, 2024 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?c=lesson-learned&page=3].
  16. Staff, "Pepper Spray Policy," City of Sacramento, November 7, 2016 [https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/content/dam/portal/city-government/policies-procedures/PepperSpray.pdf].
  17. Staff, "Instructor and Training School Resources," Texas Department of Public Safety, revised November 2018 [https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/private-security/instructor-and-training-school-resources].
  18. Staff, "Article 9. Skills Training Course for Security Guards," California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, Current as of 2024 [https://bsis.ca.gov/industries/g_train.shtml].
  19. Kris Moloney, "Self Defense Laws, Your Rights and Use of Force," Church Security Guide on Sheepdog Church Security, © 2018 [https://sheepdogchurchsecurity.net/use-of-force-arrest-laws], and Sheepdog Church Security Academy, posted June 9, 2023 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?p=self-defense-laws-your-rights-and-use-of-force].
  20. Kris Moloney, "Church Safety Teams and Active Shooter Training," Church Security Guide on Sheepdog Church Security, © 2018 [https://sheepdogchurchsecurity.net/active-shooter], and as "Church Safety: Active Killer Response Strategies," on Sheepdog Church Security Academy, posted June 9, 2023 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?p=church-safety-active-killer-response-strategies].
  21. Kris Moloney, Church Security Guide, Sheepdog Church Security, © 2018 [https://sheepdogchurchsecurity.net/church-security-guide/], and June 9, 2023 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?c=church-security-guide].