Xenia, OH's Glen Evans, of the Church Security Alliance, recently conducted a phone interview with Captain Brad Wells, Chief Investigator for Madison County, Illinois Sheriff's Office. Wells responded to the tragic church security incident on March 8, 2009, when Pastor Fred Winters was shot and killed while preaching.

Among other things, Wells reveals that there was an armed, retired officer in the building who was unable to get to the shooter in time. Wells praised the unarmed church members who intervened as "heroes" (and who received knife wounds for their efforts), and says had they not intervened, the murderer "would have kept going."

Listen to the interview to get an inside look at what happened that day, and how your church can begin to tackle the issue of church security.

By John Longenecker

The genius of concealed carry of handguns is that would­-be murderers remain uncertain as to who is armed and who isn't. You never know if the target is armed with lethal force, and more to the point, how alert and prepared they are to resist. This is true for everyone interested in being as safe as they can be from future violence, because it comes to the realization of specific unalterable realities: you're on your own. It's a matter of positive attitude, not belligerence.

This week some Southern California church leaders came to that very same conclusion, and took up a position advocating not only a very discreet security presence of professionals, but also took the advice of their consultants and adopted the policy of advocating concealed carry of handguns among the congregation.

Realities are the core of solving the problem of church violence, and having the stomach to face those realities and to meet them. For too long, employers, churches, schools and others have said many different ways that they are sad to see things have to come to this, but this is a trap which serves not the people, but the killers. Other objections have also delayed facing the reality of how to meet the reality of murders and mayhem on campus. Fifteen Southern California church leaders refused to fall into that trap, and they sought out expert advice. Among other steps, it involves concealed carry of handguns in church, and they took it.