Irresponsible Defenders

An old joke says, “Experience is that thing that helps you recognize a mistake when you make it again.” That seems to be the case when considering armed defenders. Many resist it out of a fear that an armed defender, who is not “credentialed” (meaning, by most, law-enforcement certified or otherwise licensed for protection), would accidently hurt innocents in a protective action. Most opposed to armed defenders, carry their concern further, to anyone, regardless of credentials. This Think About It commentary runs publicly every weekend and has since 2011. Thousands have read it in one of the many places it is published. I am asking a question to the entire audience of readers. Can any one of you name a time when an armed uncredentialed defender, acting in official capacity of an American church, school or any other business, accidently hurt innocent people while trying to protect others during an attack? Anyone? There are hundreds of times innocent people died in a church, school or business (or even on a military installation) with no armed defender between them and the killer. In 1991, the United / Norwest Bank of Denver issued a policy stripping all armed guards of their firearms. Two months later (on Father’s Day, June 16th, 1991) a still unknown armed assailant, with considerable knowledge of the bank and security operations, killed 4 helpless guards and escaped with $200,000 in cash. Immediately the bank re-instated armed guards. In 2020, based on George Floyd fallout, Denver Public Schools removed armed guards (who were credentialed as described above) from all campuses. On March 22nd of this year, a student killed two faculty members at Denver’s East High School. One day later the Denver School board unanimously re-instated armed guards (quickly stressing it was only a temporary measure). Really? For the first time, I agree with Denver Mayor Michael Hancock on security. He stated, “Removing them [armed guards] was a mistake,” and “we must move swiftly to correct it.”   Think About it. Why does America keep making the same mistake of listening to the wrong people for advice on security? What does Alec Baldwin (for example) know about guns or security? I offer three words. Responsible armed defenders. Understanding there is work to do in defining responsible. In the meantime, killers keep bringing weapons as policy makers keep taking them away from defenders. Who’s helping who?

Trauma can be disturbing enough to cause one to remember life before, compared to life after — “it”.   A deadly force incident in a church is painful enough to do that. We don’t expect to see blood, hear gunshots, smell smoke or feel the concussion of explosion in a house of worship. Our church is our sanctuary. When evil invades it, that day marks the separation of life before and after for those who were there.   The wounded survivors from the horrific 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing that left four innocent little girls dead will never forget it. The angry darkness of smoke replaced the bright futures of 11-year-old Denise McNair and 14-year-olds Addie Mae Collins, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley.   The entire town of Daingerfield Texas changed on Sunday morning June 22nd, 1980, when a killer invaded the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church. The atmosphere of worship was shattered when he yelled “This is War!” and began randomly shooting into the congregation. Before being stopped by men who carry the scars today (or are counted among those killed), he slew 5 people ranging in ages from 7 to 78-years-old. His surprise attack left Daingerfield residents asking not only why — but how.   How?   Think About it   In order for any criminal to commit a crime, regardless of the level of crime, it requires three things;   The attacker must have the intent to do wrong.   The attacker must have the capacity to do what he intends to do.   The attacker must have an opportunity to do it.   Of those three (intent, capacity and opportunity) potential victim(s) have no control over the intent or capacity of others to harm them.   No amount of mental health services and education is ever going to rid the world of the evil intent of mankind. No conglomeration of more restrictive laws is going to change every killer’s capacity. They will find a way.   Will education and laws help at all? To some degree, yes. But there is only one thing we truly have power over; the opportunity given to a bad actor.   Every time you serve your ministry in the capacity of protection, you are lessening the opportunity of trauma in people’s lives.   I am grateful for the defenders; uniformed and citizen, who protect every day.   Carl Chinn, President, FBSN