There had been threats made to this church in the past. Also, the church officials had heard that the mission school had been attacked earlier in the day, so they notified their "volunteer" security people to be extra vigilant.
But, yes, it is a sad testament that violence against religious institutions is on the rise.
2007-12-11 03:39:07
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answer #1
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answered by kathy_is_a_nurse 7
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I don't claim to claim to know what their thought process was, but apparently New Life Church figured that they were high-profile enough to warrant armed security, and probably even more so after the scandal broke about former pastor Ted Haggard. There have also been shootings at churches in the past. Since they evidently had the funds to make that the guards were appropriately equipped, and also a willing and qualified group of volunteers, they probably thought it was worth doing as a "just in case" measure. I'd imagine, though, that they never really expected the guards to do anything except be a deterring presence against someone deciding to come in and cause trouble.
I do agree with you, though, that armed security seems to be out of character for a church, and it's unfortunate that society at large has changed to the point where even a church thinks it's needed.
2007-12-11 03:47:36
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answer #2
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answered by Navigator 7
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The shooter had been kicked out of that church school two years earlier. He had been sending hate mail and threats to the church for some time. Most churches do not have armed security, although those with congregations over a thousand often do. The Lakewood Church has a congregation of several thousand. It would make sense to have security any time that many people are gathered anywhere for any reason But then again, to someone like you it probably does not.
2007-12-11 07:51:27
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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The only thing I can think of is that they must have had some kind of threat in the recent past to feel they needed armed security.
It was a large church so I understand the need to have some security there in case of an emergency (natural disaster, etc.) but armed? That is odd.
2007-12-11 03:40:39
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answer #4
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answered by andreaw35 2
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I kinda wondered that myself. I used to belong to a church like that and things never got THAT out of hand that they would need an armed security guard on site.
2007-12-11 04:02:56
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answer #5
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answered by thezaylady 7
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I live in America and this is absolutely unheard of. Her being armed had something to do with the fact that 12 hours earlier and something like 90 miles away, the same person had already went into another church and shot it up - ofcourse it's not the norm in America.
The lady that killed him just happened to be in that line of work and had volunteered to guard because of the previous incident
2007-12-11 03:43:31
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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Yep, that's the one fact that jumped out at me. I find it inconceivable that a church needs armed security. I don't ever remember hearing of that even in Northern Ireland during the 'Troubles' when it was basically Catholics v Protestants. Churches were left alone as being sacred.
2007-12-11 04:24:56
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answer #7
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answered by threepenny53 5
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I think the armed services were there after the shooting, as all churches went on lock down!!!!! AND its america
2007-12-12 06:40:09
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answer #8
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answered by superstar 5
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USA have always had firearms wherever. Thankfully i live in the UK but we still have armed violence !! Where i am is rural and beautiful,mostly peaceful but there are still armed police patrols passing my house several times a day because it is close to a high risk site..What is more,those armed police park by the Church as it has a good vantage point. The entire world has gone mad............
2007-12-11 03:41:42
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answer #9
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answered by trish b 7
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There are plenty of things i don't understand about americans.
I was in the states and an armed guard told me not to 'step away' from the cash machine (ATM for you lot). There was nothing wrong with the machine, his company had presumably hired him to stop customers using it...
2007-12-11 03:42:48
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answer #10
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answered by Icarus 6
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