February 10, 2018 (Saturday)
Fox News Report:
A Florida church has a stark warning to all who enter who may wish to do harm–“we are heavily armed.”
The River at Tampa Bay Church regularly broadcasts its services live on social media, and in the wake of the Texas church massacre where 26 people were killed, a leader of the congregation made a splash on social media when he posted a photo of the sign.
“Welcome to The River at Tampa Bay Church — right of admission reserved — this is private property,” it reads. “Please know this is not a gun free zone — we are heavily armed — any attempt will be dealt with deadly force — yes we are a church and will protect our people.” The message is signed “The Pastors.”
After the tragic experience of the people at First Baptist Church, Sutherland Springs, Texas, many congregations have taken steps to provide security at their church services. Most have been much more subtle than the Tampa folks in their approach, with their security people blending in with the other worshipers, but anyone who may be thinking of repeating the mass murders needs to know that most churches now have armed security people at their services.
When I first heard of everyone at the Tampa church being armed, I immediately thought of Joel McCrea, playing the part of an armed preacher in the 1950 movie, “Stars in My Crown.”
Following is a clip from the movie showing the preacher in a saloon with his six-shooters on the bar, placed on either side of his Bible, promising that his sermon will be backed up with his guns. Click here to see the movie scene. The video was entertainment in 1950, but alludes to harsh reality in 2018.
Each church must decide for itself how it wants to provide security for the worshipers, but the continued suffering of the wounded at Sutherland Springs, the awful grief of bereaved families there, the reality of mindless violence in today’s world all remind us that we live in a changed world and we must make adjustments.
Bluegrass version, “Will There Be Any Stars in My Crown”