A harrowing incident in Michigan and sobering memories of the Mother Emanuel shooting in Charleston have brought renewed attention to safety in places of worship. Former FBI tactical expert Rob Chadwick dove into the issue during a recent episode of Chicago’s Morning Answer.
Chadwick, who led the FBI’s tactical training program at Quantico and now directs public safety at the U.S. Concealed Carry Association, emphasized that these threats are no longer rare. Over the past two decades, nearly 4,000 violent incidents have occurred in churches, synagogues, and mosques across America—and that number is rising.
The turning point came in Wayne, Michigan, where a deacon and two parishioners heroically confronted an armed intruder. According to Chadwick, the deacon originally stayed home that morning to save on gas, delaying his arrival—an ironic twist of fate that put him in the parking lot just as the attacker arrived. Seeing the man dressed in tactical gear with a rifle, the deacon initially tried negotiation before resorting to defensive action. He used his truck to disrupt the attacker, though his vehicle was subsequently riddled with bullets.
At the same time, two church members reacted immediately as shots were fired near the church entrance. One man, having just set down his grandchild moments before, sprinted toward the gunfire to stop the threat. Thanks to their quick thinking—and a recent USCCA training session just four days earlier—they were able to disarm the assailant and prevent a massacre.
Chadwick called this a testament to preparation: “The difference was, these ordinary people were ready.” He stressed that police response, although swift, still takes minutes—time an active attacker can use to inflict maximum harm. He recommended that churches and other public gathering places develop basic safety plans and conduct training drills, transforming well-intentioned communities into resilient ones capable of responding effectively under pressure.
The conversation returned to the 2015 Mother Emanuel church shooting in Charleston, where nine members of a Bible study were killed after welcoming a man into their midst. Chadwick, who responded to the attack, described the victim’s actions—opening their doors in goodwill—as emblematic of the danger of lacking preparedness. He urged listeners: “Don’t wait for it to happen here. Think now, make a plan, train, and protect.”
Overall, Chadwick reinforced that carrying a firearm is about survival, not heroism. He said the best outcomes come from training first to avoid confrontation and, if that’s not possible, to block escapes. A firearm should be a final line of defense—not a trigger for confrontation. He also cautioned on complications when private armed citizens and police intersect in a crisis, stressing that clarity and restraint matter.
As violence in sensitive spaces increases, this latest incident highlights the vital importance of awareness, planning, and training for places of worship. Church leaders are now asking: are you prepared? Premium training and planning may be the difference between tragedy and triumph. And as Chadwick observed, regular conversations—beginning with that cup of coffee with a neighbor—can be life-saving.
For churches and community organizations that want to step up their preparation, the United States Concealed Carry Association offers training and guidance at uscca.com.