Churches Prepare for Dangerous Encounters

Local pastor and Lubbock City Council Member, Jim Gerlt, said his church is secure in more ways than one.

Golf carts escort people from the parking lot, police officers attend services out of uniform, and they also have background checks on all Sunday school teachers. Gerlt said even he is armed. It's his way, he says, to prepare for any dangerous situation that could happen.

"Our officers come prepared to defend us. We've tried to take evrey legal step possible to come prepared to defend ourselves in the event of a crisis. We don't want that to happen, but again we want to be proactive," said Gerlt.

Pastor Gerlt told us it's something he wishes they didn't have to do but he wants his congregation to feel safe.

"We've tried to take every legal step possible to come prepared to defend ourselves in the event of a crisis," said Gerlt.        

Bacon Heights' administration meets with Lubbock police regularly to keep it as safe as possible.  Gerlt said that his church is not the only one in Lubbock that takes precautionary measures.

"We're not trying to be paranoid we're just trying be realistic of what's taken place," said Gerlt. "I think you might be surprised at how many churches in town have forms of security and probably most of them wont talk to you about it."

Gerlt said he is a concealed carry holder, and that he is authorized by his trustees to carry a gun. He said that the police officers that attend his church encourage him to do so. 

"So yes, we're trying to take every step we possibly can. If we find that there's a weakness somewhere in our system, we'll work to upgrade that."

It is legal in the state of Texas, to have a gun in church, but it is up to the church's discretion on how to employ the law. You must have a concealed-carry license.