Pastors react to new self defense laws in churches

Pastors react to new self defense laws in churches

P's favor.

Churches leaders in north alabama are making plans to increase security measures at their congregations.

This comes after voters passed amendments five and six in both franklin and lauderdale counties on tuesday-- it's allows a person to use deadly physical force in self defense while inside of a church.

Waay 31's casey albritton joins us live tonight..

She spoke with church leaders who say they are glad the measure passed.

Casey?

I'm here in limestone county - where churches have had the stand your ground law in place since may.

Church leaders in both lauderdale and franklin counties say, especially with the county's divide and tensions surrounding the election, it's more important than ever to improve safety.

Pastor/ michael cole "we've seen multiple church shootings and things like that, so really i think it's a good thing."

Pastor/ sean reathford "just for the safety of our congregation, our community, for the people around us, for the people we minister to on a daily basis."

Church pastors in franklin and lauderdale counties say they think the stand your ground amendments will help church attendees feel safer.

Pastor/ sean reathford "when i was growing up, we didn't have to worry about someone coming into our congregation with a gun."

But now-- pastors feel they still need to make some safety improvements.

Pastor/ sean reathford "it was necessary i believe for the times and things that we are living through and some of the things that are going on in our country right now."

Pastor for redemption outreach church in russellville, sean reathford told me while his church has had security for about two years now, he says election-related violence across the country is concerning pastor/ sean reathford "we are going to be taking actions in the days to come to brief.

We have a staff meeting once a week and we will brief all of our security team if something like that were to take place."

Pastor of mount bethel united methodist in rogersville, michael cole says his church doesn't have a security team-- but that's going to change too.

Pastor/ michael cole "we will be getting together and making a security plan and possibly getting some people trained."

Both pastors say they are doing everything they can to protect their congregation.

Pastor/ sean reathford "we just feel god has called us to protect those people."

Pastor/ michael cole "you can't turn a sanctuary into a gunfight at the ok corral.

There has to be guidelines."

Pastor cole says this sunday church board members will be meeting to go over the stand your ground amendment and what kind of safetly plans they can put in place.

Live in limestone county, casey albritton, waay 31