Faith Under Fire. Protecting Our Places of Worship

This podcast episode features Lou Gosnell, a veteran instructor at Gunsite Academy, discussing cowboy action shooting and church security. Gosnell shares his extensive experience, including winning the first Single Action Shooting Society End of Trail competition and his role in developing Gunsite's church defense course. The discussion highlights the effectiveness and historical significance of lever-action rifles and single-action revolvers, while also delving into the critical aspects of proactive security measures for places of worship, emphasizing prevention, intervention, and the importance of trained volunteers.

This video highlights new tactical programs from Adaptiv Defense, including a 2-3 day CQB course for active shooter response led by former Army Special Operations personnel Jesse Sinkov. The training is designed for both individual officers and church security teams, emphasizing practical skills in a shoot house environment with both pistol and carbine. The programs are part of an expanded curriculum run by Brantley Merriam and others.

John Lovell, founder of Warrior Poet Society and former security professional, offers a free 12-part church security training series. This comprehensive resource, accessible via the WPSN app or watchwpsn.com, covers essential aspects of security planning, team building, and proactive measures to enhance safety in religious institutions. Lovell urges community sharing to save lives and implement tangible safety steps beyond prayer.

This video emphasizes the critical need to consider civilian presence when engaging an active killer threat. It advises moving forward aggressively to create safe shooting lanes, ensuring threats are engaged effectively without endangering innocent bystanders. The instructor highlights the challenge of maintaining control and executing safe shots amidst panicked crowds.

This video details Steve Tarani's protective agent training, emphasizing that it's for responsible shooters protecting their families, not just elite operatives. The course focuses on reinforcing fundamentals, gun handling, and applying skills under pressure for accuracy and speed in real-world scenarios, moving beyond square range limitations. The ultimate goal is to build confidence to apply shooting skills in environments like home defense or church security.

This podcast episode focuses on establishing and managing church safety teams, emphasizing a holistic approach that integrates both security and medical preparedness. Key takeaways include conducting thorough risk analysis, the importance of clear policies and procedures, rigorous training for armed volunteers (including FBI qualification standards), and maintaining a defensive posture. The discussion highlights the need for team coordination, de-escalation techniques, and proactive external observation to ensure the safety of the congregation.

William Kirk, President of Washington Gun Law and a practicing attorney, provides expert guidance on how to legally respond if your vehicle is surrounded by a mob. He emphasizes understanding the nuances of self-defense laws, particularly concerning the use of force, and stresses that the primary goal should always be de-escalation and safe escape when possible. The instruction highlights the critical difference between property damage and threats to human life when justifying defensive actions.

This video, featuring legal expert William Kirk, delves into the complex legalities of using deadly force against law enforcement officers when faced with unlawful aggression. It clarifies the foundational principles of self-defense, including necessity, reasonableness, and proportionality, and outlines the four legal justifications for employing lethal force. The discussion highlights the protections afforded by the Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground laws, particularly within one's home, and differentiates between the legal right to self-defense and the tactical considerations of engaging with law enforcement.

This video features William Kirk, President of Washington Gun Law, an expert in firearms law, discussing the growing trend of county sheriffs and state associations opposing federal gun control measures. The primary focus is on Arkansas, detailing Act 1012 and Arkansas Code 21-1-904, which aim to prevent state cooperation with federal enforcement of certain firearms regulations, particularly the ATF's rule on pistol stabilizing braces.

William Kirk, President of Washington Gun Law, provides expert insights into ATF firearm inspection authority. He clarifies that the ATF cannot demand inspections of non-NFA firearms or NFA items without a warrant, dispelling common misconceptions about Fourth Amendment rights for firearm owners. The video emphasizes that FFLs have different inspection rules than private citizens.