He should not have done that.
A man who brought a firearm to a church service in Woodruff, South Carolina, has been prohibited from attending future events at the church, according to local authorities.
The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office reported that the 60-year-old man, who was armed, attended a service on a recent Sunday. He reportedly expressed a desire to “let it all out today” while displaying his gun, as reported by FOX Carolina.
When law enforcement arrived, the man was found sitting in the back pew and was subsequently escorted out of the church. When questioned about his reasons for bringing the gun, he claimed he intended to “become closer with the Lord.” Despite legally owning the firearm, the man’s actions led authorities to classify him as a trespasser, thus barring his future entry to the church.
Concerns about church security have grown in recent years due to several high-profile mass shootings across the United States. A June survey by Lifeway Research indicated that nearly 80% of Protestant pastors in the U.S. reported having some form of security measures in place during services. However, 17% of churches had no security measures whatsoever.
Among those with security plans, 57% had specific protocols for active shooter situations, and 54% had armed members as part of their security measures, reflecting a near 10% increase since 2019.
In December, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a guide called “Physical Security Performance Goals for Faith-Based Communities,” offering a set of practices for enhancing security while maintaining accessibility. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas emphasized the department’s commitment to safeguarding Americans’ rights to worship freely and safely. He encouraged faith-based institutions to utilize these new security strategies to better protect their communities.