I find it hard to believe that an entire West Texas church congregation was unarmed. I suspect that someone in the Sutherland Springs’ church was packing heat. Someone who died before he or she could return fire. Regardless, this heinous attack highlights the paramount importance of situational awareness. Armed or not, the sooner a good guy or gal detects a threat, alerts the crowd and initiates a counter-attack, the better. At that point, a ballistic option is way better than not having one. So . . .
are you armed at your house of worship? Is anyone? Do you sit in a particular location in case there is a lethal threat? Have you prepped your family for the possibility? Do you have a plan?
HELLUVA job ATF…we HAVE UBC in Illinoisistan. And no benefit whatsoever. I bet no leftards “get it”. Just the usual ban everything BS😡😡😡
We won’t need religious debates with the rate America is losing its religion.
Which is a good thing. Religion has been responsible for more deaths than anything else.
Absurd on its face. Atheism owns over 100 million deaths in the twentieth century alone.
Faith, by definition, is the belief in something absent evidence.
Are you saying that a lack of faith is responsible for 100 million deaths? Please explain.
I know that Texas law does not support CCW in church. Technically, you could possibly face charges. Doesn’t seem to faze shooters looking to carry out death and destruction in a gun safe zone. That said, yes I carry in my house of worship, for the exact reason we see from this event.
I thought that was the case, but was corrected by someone who posted the text of the law which clearly said that carry was only prohibited if the facility was posted. Perhaps there has been a change?
It’s legal to carry in church unless posted, or informed per the law. Hopefully you don’t meet in a school.
The Father and Creator YAHWEH Jehoovah Commanded that this Galaxy is to be a FREE WILL ZONE as a Divine Experiment! The will be Judgement and a Graduation Day coming-up very soon! We are in the Last Days, where this beautiful Earth Plane will go through Tribulation, and will go through the 4th Dimension and into the 5th Dimension. Are you prepared? If not then, you must go to Jesus the Christ and ask for Forgiveness as we are all Sinners by Virtue of Adam and Eve who violated the Father’s Commands. Jesus is the only one who was sent by the Father as your Savior and Messiah! God Bless You for understanding this message!
Yes, I’m armed at church, and due to certain responsibilities, often have an ideal vantage point.
I also used to carry at another church where I was employed, but thought better of telling my immediate boss about it. Years later, I found out that he was packing every Sunday, too.
You are not fair. These ultra small pistols are not service weapons. No auto or revolver will ever be as reliable as a good Derringer inspired gun. Of course, they have some limitations. I would love to have some kind of C.O.P. chambered for, maybe, 327 Magnum.
I am not a Church goer (Agnostic, not Atheist), but if I were, I would definitely be armed and choose a tactically advantageous area to sit relative to entrances and exits. I’m essentially physically armed or within a few feet of a ready-to-go firearm 24/7, except where prohibited by Federal or State law. Situational Awareness is my friend and I practice it at all times.
Oh, I carry. Yesterday Glock 17, 2 spare mags, CZ Scorpion and two spare mags for that as well.
As usual Herr Drumpf and the Republican Prostitutes of the Gun Industry sit on their hands and simply say “learn to live with it as mass murders will now be a weekly occurrence and we would lose too much money from t he NRA if we decided to put a stop to it.
At this point the question is why in the hell is not the U.S. Military sharing its information with the people in the Government that run the Brady Bill. If the weapons bought were bought legally than this is the fault of the U.S. Military for not sharing the fact that the Nut Case was sent to a military jail for a year over severe assault upon his wife which under the Brady Bill would have denied him purchase of any firearm.
It is necessary to note that Texas denied him a concealed handgun permit so obviously law enforcement knew about his violent past and he therefore must have lied on the 4473 Federal Form. The ATF has made the statement he did legally purchase the guns so obviously they did not have information on him that would have prevented him from purchasing firearms. Even if you lie on a Federal Firearms From you will be caught if there is information in the system on you which since the Military had failed to share they are to blame for what happened. I think the obvious question now is how was it that Texas law enforcement knew about him but the Brady Bill people did not? It is possible he used a fake i.d. but law enforcement has yet to release everything that they know about him and exactly how he was able to purchase the firearms.
It must be remembered that even if the Brady Bill had prevented him from purchasing firearms he would have gotten them anyway because the U.S. being under the influence and control of Hillbilly Republican Morons is the only country in the world that does not make it mandatory that all second hand gun sales be vetted and that guns purchased be locked up in safes to prevent theft. No civilized nation on earth save the U.S. has such an insane gun policy of being able to purchase firearms by anyone whether he be a criminal or a maniac on the loose and a further policy of letting people leave deadly weapons laying around a house or in a gun store so that anyone can kick in the door and cart off all the deadly weapons he wishes. If it were not for the gravity of the situation the rest of the world would be laughing at a Nation like the U.S. that is run by such screwball Morons.
Meanwhile we have mass shooting now almost on a weekly basis and even the Republicans will soon reach a point where it will be politically impossible for them to keep on pandering to the NRA. Because we have failed to use such basic safeguards gun owners will pay the ultimate price with draconian gun and ammunition bans. I fear it may eventually get to the point where like at one time in Britain farmers were restricted to the purchase of only one box of .22 rimfire ammo per year and firearms restrictions so severe that the common man’s ability to afford to or jump through the political hoops to purchase firearms will be a thing of the past. Only the extremely wealthy and the Power Elite will have firearms and all because we refused to accept such basic safeguards as complete vetting of all firearms and the mandatory use of safes. And the Republicans refusal to institute National Health Care which would give free help to people with mental health issues. According to the Greed Monger Republicans money is more important than human life. They truly are the lowest form of human life on the planet and most of the Nations problems are the result of their policies of blind greed which results in pollution that is destroying all life on the planet, people dying from lack of health care, people going bankrupt for lack of affordable health care, young people giving up on the idea of an affordable college education, our roads and bridges unsafe to drive on, no money for the widening and improving of our roads, inadequate money for police training which results in a horrific 1,500 cop killings a year as compared to civilized nations which have only a few. This is all the result of our incessant wars of rape ,pillage and conquest that result in us spending the lions share of our taxes on this insanity leaving no money for the social programs all the other industrialized nations of the world have already had for decades and decades. We have created a Nation that has become an unsafe mad house to live in and a joke amongst the rest of the civilized nations of the world. Today you cannot even drive down the freeway without worrying that some nut case will start shooting at you for just cutting him off in traffic. Is it a wonder why 65 per cent of the American Public who do not own guns are demanding that all guns be outlawed? Since we have consistently failed to do anything we deserve what we inevitably are going to get and that is a complete ban on firearms and ammunition which the courts time and time again have ruled is legal (even though it Constitutionally is not) but when did the Courts ever really give a damn what the Constitution says or means.
Troll elsewhere, bigot.
The so called hero came “after the fact” and that was 25 dead people, mostly innocent children. Real facts are you have no chance when a madman plans ahead of time, has the element of surprise and wears a bullet proof vest and carries an assault rifle. Meanwhile you are only armed with a pistol that does not penetrate a bullet proof vest and aiming for a small area of the face gives you about as much chance as a snowball in hell of connecting to him before he simply and easily blows you away with an assault rifle.
At this point the question is why in the hell is not the U.S. Military sharing its information with the people in the Government that run the Brady Bill. If the weapons bought were bought legally than this is the fault of the U.S. Military for not sharing the fact that the Nut Case was sent to a military jail for a year over severe assault upon his wife which under the Brady Bill would have denied him purchase of any firearm.
It is necessary to note that Texas denied him a concealed handgun permit so obviously law enforcement knew about his violent past and he therefore must have lied on the 4473 Federal Form. The ATF has made the statement he did legally purchase the guns so obviously they did not have information on him that would have prevented him from purchasing firearms. Even if you lie on a Federal Firearms From you will be caught if there is information in the system on you which since the Military had failed to share they are to blame for what happened. I think the obvious question now is how was it that Texas law enforcement knew about him but the Brady Bill people did not? It is possible he used a fake i.d. but law enforcement has yet to release everything that they know about him and exactly how he was able to purchase the firearms.
It must be remembered that even if the Brady Bill had prevented him from purchasing firearms he would have gotten them anyway because the U.S. being under the influence and control of Hillbilly Republican Morons is the only country in the world that does not make it mandatory that all second hand gun sales be vetted and that guns purchased be locked up in safes to prevent theft. No civilized nation on earth save the U.S. has such an insane gun policy of being able to purchase firearms by anyone whether he be a criminal or a maniac on the loose and a further policy of letting people leave deadly weapons laying around a house or in a gun store so that anyone can kick in the door and cart off all the deadly weapons he wishes. If it were not for the gravity of the situation the rest of the world would be laughing at a Nation like the U.S. that is run by such screwball Morons.
Meanwhile we have mass shooting now almost on a weekly basis and even the Republicans will soon reach a point where it will be politically impossible for them to keep on pandering to the NRA. Because we have failed to use such basic safeguards gun owners will pay the ultimate price with draconian gun and ammunition bans. I fear it may eventually get to the point where like at one time in Britain farmers were restricted to the purchase of only one box of .22 rimfire ammo per year and firearms restrictions so severe that the common man’s ability to afford to or jump through the political hoops to purchase firearms will be a thing of the past. Only the extremely wealthy and the Power Elite will have firearms and all because we refused to accept such basic safeguards as complete vetting of all firearms and the mandatory use of safes. And the Republicans refusal to institute National Health Care which would give free help to people with mental health issues. According to the Greed Monger Republicans money is more important than human life. They truly are the lowest form of human life on the planet and most of the Nations problems are the result of their policies of blind greed which results in pollution that is destroying all life on the planet, people dying from lack of health care, people going bankrupt for lack of affordable health care, young people giving up on the idea of an affordable college education, our roads and bridges unsafe to drive on, no money for the widening and improving of our roads, inadequate money for police training which results in a horrific 1,500 cop killings a year as compared to civilized nations which have only a few. This is all the result of our incessant wars of rape ,pillage and conquest that result in us spending the lions share of our taxes on this insanity leaving no money for the social programs all the other industrialized nations of the world have already had for decades and decades. We have created a Nation that has become an unsafe mad house to live in and a joke amongst the rest of the civilized nations of the world. Today you cannot even drive down the freeway without worrying that some nut case will start shooting at you for just cutting him off in traffic. Is it a wonder why 65 per cent of the American Public who do not own guns are demanding that all guns be outlawed? Since we have consistently failed to do anything we deserve what we inevitably are going to get and that is a complete ban on firearms and ammunition which the courts time and time again have ruled is legal (even though it Constitutionally is not) but when did the Courts ever really give a damn what the Constitution says or means.
Too bad so many had to die to have these sort of things said.
That was a very good response by the sheriff.
Hopefully Paxton will be a future Prez candidate.
I would rather he became a member of Congress. He could institute more change for the better there. I don’t understand why people have this notion that POTUS is the most powerful man on Earth. POTUS is not that powerful, that is how our government was built by design.
Born in 1950. If you had a BB rifle and a bicycle you ruled! A good pocket knife,rabbits foot and later, a pair of “P F FLYERS” You were unstoppable!Afterwards, if you were lucky, you graduated to a 22 caliber rifle or pistol! It generally fed a 22 short, long or long rifle. One might ride through the whole neighborhood blowing away anything that moved! (Just kidding maybe !). Anyway, the point being is that I think that you guys have missed the point! I’m not one of those guys that follow all those specifics on guns, ammo, ballistics ,velocity and such! I grew up with 22’s ! BEST all purpose cal. made! You can peck a flea off of a ,well, whatever. Back to the point, 22’s that i grew up with were pieces of art! Target pistols ,as well as pocket pistols were not only fun and practical but many were used in competition ! Now, one company, has chosen to take this to another level! NORTH AMERICAN ARMS!!! I know little about them except that I bought a 22 short 5 shot revolver at a gun store in the 70’s (new).I hit a beer can 3 times out of 5 at 5 yards! Unfortunately, I traded it later on and always wanted another one.(Which i recently bought.) These small revolvers are not only superbly made but light weight and easy to conceal! Great for close small game or snake attack.These guns may not be suited for some especially ones with large hands.I can hold my 22 short as well any other gun that I shoot! I’m sure one would not want to carry as a primary back-up but for a licensed c.c. citizen it’s a comfort to carry in any pocket! However, I rely on my 45 auto holstered on my belt as my mainstay.They’re fun to shoot, ammo’s cheap and extremely well made! Would make a great stocking stuffer. Just dont forget the batteries, I mean bullets!!!
Actually, this is pretty close to what I carry. I carry the Sabre CS Tear Gas, because that what that stuff has and it’s highly effective and provides an alternative to using lethal force, which is a good thing. I also carry my Surefire PX Fury light. I don’t carry an extra mag or knife, but keys, phone and wallet..of course!
Recent events should remind us all that a good trauma kit can be just as critical as our handguns in a bad scenario. Perhaps more so.
I really need to finish equipping my EDC backpack… (sigh) more money… 🤠
Silly rabbit, background checks only work for the law abiding.
It’s been suggested that this guy quite literally shot up the church and the people in it, from outside the building. He didn’t do much, if any shooting at all, from inside of the church. I’m a big believer in concealed carry, and I too am armed from the minute I’m awake, or thereabouts. The victims here merely saw the inside of their church being ripped to shreds by an unknown assailant. I’m sure there were armed folks inside, but if it’s true that the shooting all came from outside, they had zero chance. This incident, like Vegas, shows that perpetrators of such crimes are evolving and searching out ways to put distance between themselves and their victims before even firing a shot…for fear of being engaged by regular people, with guns. I’d still recommend that everyone who is able to, should carry, but to those of us who already do: Take note, you can have the gear and all of the situational awareness in the world, and still come out on the wrong end of the stick.
Watts has ZERO brains and facts
And this is the danger as the casual news blurb hears this as and takes it as facts! After all we know BookFace and Twatter users are all vetted truth tellers right?
The Texas DPS (state police), who administer our license to carry (LTC) process, do utilize the FBI’s NICS background check. In fact, they run a check not just on initial applicants, but on license holders continually, on a monthly basis. That way they can revoke the LTC if the holder later becomes a prohibited possessor.
I ‘d look for the antis to push for such a feature, but initiated by the Feds themselves at the national level and applying to all carriers nationwide, as part of any national reciprocity bill compromise.
Now, maybe all licensing states do that already, anyway; maybe not. If not, then that would add a new burden on states that don’t periodically re-check backgrounds. It would add an even greater, and to-be-determined, burden on Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Wyoming and Vermont–the states that don’t require a permit at all for concealed carry.
Wouldn’t it be an unfortunate irony if federally-imposed national reciprocity brought mandatory licensing to these formerly constitutional carry states?
Y’all know how it is, get a gun and instantly turn into a murderous maniac. Get a silencer and you’ll become a night stalker. Get night-vision gear and you’ll be that Bill guy from “Silence of the Lambs” by Thanksgiving…
She is nothing more than a well paid corporate shill. That anyone would listen to her and take her seriously speaks volumes.
As many have noted above, if I’m up, I’m carrying. I’m always carrying in synagogue. I have switched from a LC9s pocket carry to a P239 OWB carry for easier access. After this spree killing, I’m toying with upgrading to an M&P 9mm.
BTW, according to the congregation president, carrying is “discouraged, but not forbidden”. She said that the city police told her that armed congregants would “confuse responding police officers”. Um, yeah. I’m thinking that by the time any po-pos get’s there, the event will be over and I can holster. There only 1 other person I know that carries at services when he attends. Well, 1 or 2 defensive guns is better than none.
What Watts depends on is her endless repetition of outright lies. The rifle used this killing was bought with a full background check no different that “universal background check” Watts hawks as the solution.
But “Everytown” and “Moms demand Action” put out complete lies over and over. They have claimed Newton and a dozen other “high profile shootings” would have been prevented by “universal background checks.” That is just a complete lie
In fact the two mass shootings that were affected by policy were CAUSED by Hillary Clinton created policy (Va. GTECH health privacy mess written by Hillary) and Eric Holder created policy (Roof being able to pass a background check directly due to his offense being downgraded by Holder DOJ guidance from a prohibiting offense to a non prohibiting offense).
I am confused…I thought a DD resulted in a prohibited person, who could not legally have firearms, but a Bad Conduct was ok to still own firearms? This nut was BC – not DD. Please enlighten…..
I live in Florida, where you can carry in church. In deference to our Pastor, who has made his feelings on our carrying in church well known, I do not carry… a firearm. I’m never without a knife. Poor fallback alternative, but better than nothing. We sit in a specific location in church where I have a direct route to any one of three of the major exits from the church. I also have a view of everything behind me in the reflection from the windows on side chapel. I’ve gone over the various scenarios, for attackers inside the church and out, and have my plans for fleeing or fighting. Fleeing isn’t a great option in our church. It’s possible to lock in the church due to a limited number of exits and outside is a large wide open area with no cover or concealment.
IS it because mass shooting proves that the government can’t help you in time, so you need your own CC piece?
I serve on the security team at my church have done so for many years and yes we are armed.
@Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy,
Are you that stupid! The only thing congress can do to reduce the problem is to pass national reciprocity and hope people train and learn situational awareness.
France is a good example of how gun free zones don’t work.. They have some of the strictest gun laws yet one of the largest mass shootings. If a gun is not used, a vehicle or explosive will take it’s place.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_massacres_in_France
Government’s broken.
Justice system is broken.
Law Enforcement criminal investigation system is broken.
Military justice system is broken.
Education system is broken.
The entire nation is fundamentally BROKEN, but Wall St. keeps hitting records highs. The band plays on.
The end will be the same as the Romans, the Empire grew too large and it’s leaders too weak and incompetent ruled for too long and the barbarians took over.
The socialist progressive atheist interfere in many different ways when it comes to church activities.
What a joke our incompetent Military is as well as our archaic gun laws. Even if the nut case had been caught by the Brady Bill he simply would have went to the nearest gun show or news paper add and bought a second hand assault rifle and all the ammo and high capacity magazines he wanted to commit mass murder and mayhem. We are the only industrialized country in the world that puts up with such insanity and as long as we continue to do so mass murders will continue to be a weekly occurrence.
Because we do not issue Firearms i.d. cards which require a mental test our freeways have become shooting galleries where anytime you cut someone off you can expect to receive a hail of gunfire from nut cases that should never have been allowed to purchase a gun. Again more insanity, more mayhem, and the rest of the civilized world is shaking their heads and saying “Good God I am so thankful I do not live in the U.S.”
Can’t just buy a gun at any gun show I go to without a 4473 and background check.
But you seem to have cottoned on to what’s being said. Background checks aren’t going to stop criminals.
We don’t need more restrictions. We need to get rid of gun free zones.
it’s not the amount of bullets it’s the accuracy that counts.
Thank you sir, for your willingness to act, and the advance preparations you made to enable you to act.
This was an act of ANTIFA terrorism.
Overall, lots of people have somewhat incorrect ideas of what were the most popular guns in the period of “the old west” from modern movies and gun collectors (ie, what’s now most valuable for collectors).
Here’s some guns that lots of people forget:
1. Shotguns. Usually double barreled, break-action, sometimes with “damascus” barrels, but not the modern pretty damascus – no, I’m talking of “trade guns” with barrels hammered out in Belgium or France and then the barrels were shipped here by the crateload for making cheap farmer/rancher guns in the US.
2. The Springfield Trapdoor rifle of 1866. There was no qualification of “in private hands,” and the US Army was the 800lb gorilla on the western frontier in those days, and their choice of arm was the Trapdoor. The 1866 Trapdoor was the rifle of the Wagon Box Fight, and was a decisive factor in turning back Red Cloud’s forces (who included Crazy Horse). These same Indian forces had won the Fetterman Massacre only a few months earlier.
3. The Sharps rifles, starting with those chambered in .50-70 government.
4. The Remington Rolling Block rifles, again, starting with the .50-70 Government.