In White Settlement, Texas, armed church security swiftly responded to a homicidal shooting suspect within six seconds during a heinous crime on Sunday, claiming two lives. This rapid response has reignited the debate surrounding gun control and the role of armed citizens in preventing mass shootings.
The incident occurred at the West Freeway Church of Christ, located outside Fort Worth. An unnamed gunman entered the church before 11 a.m. and sat down among the congregation. He then stood up, produced a shotgun, and fatally shot two parishioners who later died at a nearby hospital. Two members of the church’s volunteer security team, who were armed, immediately returned fire, neutralizing the gunman before he could inflict further harm.
The double homicide has prompted Texas Republicans to credit changes in state law that permit concealed firearms in places of worship. Britt Farmer, the church’s senior minister, told the Dallas Morning News that the church lost two “great men today, but it could have been a lot worse, and I am thankful our government has allowed us the opportunity to protect ourselves.”
In June, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed eight gun bills into law, including one allowing legal gun owners to carry concealed weapons into places of worship. This legislation followed a church shooting in Sutherland Springs that killed 26 people. State Sen. Donna Campbell, co-sponsor of the bill, stated, “We have learned many times over that there is no such thing as a gun-free zone. Those with evil intentions will violate the law and carry out their heinous acts no matter what. It makes no sense to disarm the good guys and leave law-abiding citizens defenseless where violent offenders break the law to do great harm.”
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick praised the two volunteer security guards at a press conference, emphasizing the importance of immediate responders. He noted that even with law enforcement arriving in less than a minute, the shooting was already over. He stated, “The immediate responder is the most important… The citizen responder… by the time they got here, the shooting was over. And that always happens, that over 50 percent of shootings, our first responders, it’s usually over when they get there, no matter how hard they try.” Patrick added, “The heroism today is unparalleled… This team responded quickly, and within six seconds the shooting was over.”
However, Democrats like Julian Castro and Beto O’Rourke criticized the law that allowed armed church security volunteers to respond lethally. Castro tweeted, “We can take steps to reduce these horrific attacks right now—we just need our elected leaders to have the courage to act.” O’Rourke added, “Clearly what we are doing in Texas, what we are doing in this country, when it comes to guns is not working.” The debate continues regarding effective measures to prevent future tragedies and the role of gun control in public safety.
Law enforcement authorities are still investigating the motive behind the shooting at the West Freeway Church of Christ. The swift action of the armed security team undoubtedly prevented further loss of life, highlighting the ongoing discussion about self-defense and the Second Amendment.
Defensive gun use is a controversial topic, but in this case, it appears to have saved lives. The debate over gun control will continue, but the actions of these sheepdog volunteers should be commended.
Church security is becoming increasingly important in today’s world. Churches are often seen as soft targets, and it is important to take steps to protect them.