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Troglodyte, it's a mess I know!

I'm just as angry as you are. I'd love to know what we can do, but it seems like such a small slice of the whole pie, it doesn't seem like it would get any recognition.

I'm sure we all can agree that the 30.06 sign does nothing to stop the bad guys from walking and just start mowing. It is a feel-good sign that the lawmakers had to make room for to push CHL laws though. My issue with thier plans are that this sign will be up 24/7, 365. But actual church service only last several hours a week.

Now, thier plans are to have LEO's in plain clothes and uniform during services. Well that's just fine and dandy. But, what about ALL THE OTHER activities the chruch has? Classes, get togethers, pot lucks, training, practice, all the OTHER stuff that happens within the church walls throughout the week. They will NOT assign an LEO to most, if not all, of these activities. I'm sure they won't want to spend the money. But there it will be, a sign pasted to all entrances, stopping the law-abing armed citizen ALL THE TIME. That is not the answer. In fact, I can make a case where stripping Americans of any God-given rights is never the answer, but we'll save that for another thread.

I want to stay sensetive to the needs of officers who have the unfathomable job of making these critical decisions. However, I am prepared to accept the possibility of collateral damage in the event of an active shooter in church if it means I can protect the life of my wife and children, even if I am the one damaged.

I attend a very large church in Southlake, TX. Just by me saying that will tip you off to what it is.

I used to be on thier "safety team". We used to be a pretty tightly-knit group of men with the safety and security of the whole church in mind.

Then, about 6 months ago, things started changing. They started to drill into us phrases of "you're not security, you are saftety"! Never letting us forget it. Then they came out with a small handbook saying these team members are "not authorized to carry a gun", whatever that means. Then they printed up a paper with all the things we CAN'T do. These would include physical intervention, carrying a weapon, etc. At the bottem, they had a place for me to sign! Making us ineffectual and totally neutered.

I'm sorry, I put up with all the politics that were emerging, all of the "neutering" of the last 6 months, but I just could NOT put my signature to something that made me less effective as a team member than just a regular attending member. So, I just stopped participating. I didn't quit, I just stopped volunteering.

This whole thing really bothers me, but I'm glad I am hearing that I am not alone. What makes things worse is that they are building a brand new facility accross the highway and I've been hearing that they have firm plans to put up the dreaded 30.06! Every time I drive by the new building under construction, my heart sinks and I think of it only as a death trap!

Becuase of these complexities, grey areas and likelyhood of being hung out to dry, I am no longer able to effectively do my part to keep a keen eye out for the safety of the church. Now, I watch my own safety and that of my familty as best as I can....that's it.

Logic and critical thinking is now gone from our church and being replaced by legalism and politics. I have no use for such things. My family loves it there, so, I will stay for now. I wish I could feel more joyful about these things. The joy of the Lord is supposed to be my strength.......