Comments about ‘Sanctuary safety: Not even churches are off-limits to violence’

Too bad so many foggy-headed LDS clergy think that declaring a "gun free" zone actually makes it so. Bad guys with guns are not deterred by rhetoric or silly legal prohibitions. A church full of unarmed people is a giant defenseless target, especially for nuts targeting other people known to be regular worshippers.

More guns equals less crime. It's irresponsible not to allow licensed conceal and carry in wardhouses, especially when the LDS Church offers no armed security guard or other protection.

Joseph Smith and Brigham Young allowed firearms in Church. Too bad this is yet another area where the modern Church has departed from the vision of their own founders.

The only thing a security camera is good for is finding out who the killer is after he's already killed his victim. Churches should quit wasting money on all of these security systems and quit denying people of their right to defend themselves. (And no, I'm not talking about karate.)

Thank you for the light on the domestic violence and that it's a power and control issue.

Churches -should- be a haven. As -should- your home. It's unfortunately just not always so.

At least in the Lehi incident, an armed congregation wouldn't have helped. A safety plan and more awareness earlier may have.

OG...you are really out to lunch today, aren't you. Calm down and get back on your meds.

More guns are NOT the answer. If anything, more CELL PHONES are a better answer. Lehi PD is well-equipped to respond to this sort of event, and will respond with swiftness if alerted. Calling 911 should be citizens' first course of action!

A ragtag band of armed vigilantes lacks the training to safely respond to these sort of situations. Simply put: Law abiding and well-intentioned though you may be, I don't know you and I don't trust you any more than the psycho you think is the real threat.

Leave the crime fighting to the professionals.

Calling 911 is of course a good idea.

However, even the best cops are HOPEFULLY only minutes away. However, as the seconds tick by, and you are standing there with your cell phone, wouldn't YOU like to have another option, especially if a killer if coming at you (for whatever reason- or no reason at all)?

The Lehi cops certainly did not get there in time to save this victim, did they?

Perhaps someone with a legally carried concealed weapon may not be able to stop an attack in progress, but if a killer knows that NO ONE will be armed does that invite attacks at such locations? Or would the knowledge that someone MAY be armed dissuade attackers looking for easy targets there?

By the way- Who wants to put a sign in their yard "GUN FREE ZONE" we do not believe in self defense, but will call 911" Probably not many people want this at their home- so why post one at work or their place of worship?

Ahh, something needs consideration here. When someone says a 'church' is a sanctuary they're referring to the building itself, not the yard, alley way or parking lot, even if owned by the church. In fact, sanctuary has included a property line in the history of humanity in two instances... embassy grounds and the vatican boundaries. Even in kingdoms of old one did not find sanctuary on the grounds outside the walled castle but only within the castle itself.

This argument that the a church parking lot is a place of sanctuary is not only an over-reaching of the concept, but a stupid assumption as well. Considering a parking lot or the lawn of a church as somehow being holy and/or protected is as superstitious as thinking that a ware-wolf cannot harm someone in the confines of a graveyard.

Murderous hearts, especially those with pre-meditated intent, are not going to be swayed by the principle of sanctuary or not... that is unless your a Catholic mafia mobster with deep religious inclination and respect for sanctuary based on thousands of years tradition...

The principle of sanctuary is not even a principle within the Mormon faith, and pastoral confidence is totally non-existent... really!

. . .against every possibility."

True.

But to arbitrarily PROHIBIT me from guarding against SOME possibilities is wrong.

As sad as this is, this man was going to kill this woman regardless of who also had a gun! He went to the church and gave no one a chance for self-defense. I am confused as to why anyone thinks that the situation would have ended differently if others had, had a gun when this happened. This poor woman would still be gone, her poor children would be without a mother and her family would still be grieving. When this man decided to do this, nothing was going to stop him. He killed her before anyone even knew it was going to happen. What we can do is offer help, love and support to this family and anyone else who may be in a situation that could be as sad and heartbreaking as this one!

I think that there should be more armed officers on the sreets in case something like this happens, maybe they should guard shopping malls, public buildings etc.

While you can't guard against all threats, people are allowed to carry guns and may choose to intervene or not. We have somehow given our responsability for self preservation completely over to local police. Dial 911, but you must remain safe until they arrive. The police are heroic men and women who do protect and serve us well, but they can't be everywhere. We can't abdicate our responsability to protect ourselves and other believers, anymore than we can advocate our responsability for personal spiritual growth. We have to do our part and prohibiting licensed/CCW people of faith from the grounds of the church with their weapon is not prudent. I do not believe that armed visible guards are the answer, but having a Safety & Security Ministry to address ALL risks is wise and prudent in todays hostile environment.