In 40 years in the ministry, Matt Buckles, the pastor of First Baptist Church in Vicksburg, never thought they would reach this point.

Armed guards at the door, no backpacks allowed inside the church, doors locked and men from the congregation walking the halls alert for threats throughout the service.

“It is heartbreaking,” Buckles said. “You would think the church is a place of freedom and peace and you wouldn’t have to worry about this.”

Now following a shooting Sunday that left 26 dead during a church service in Sutherland Springs, Texas, Buckles has been forced to wonder if even those steps are enough to keep his congregation safe.

“Not just based on (Sunday), but over the last several months we have looked at ramping up our armed security,” Buckles said. “It is obvious that the church, a gathering of Christians is now a viable satanic target …  Our church is looking at extra measures to put in place.”

Last year, the Mississippi Legislature passed HB 786 known as the “Mississippi Church Protection Act,” which allows churches to designate members of the congregation who are authorized to carry firearms during the service.

The law requires the designated members to have a firearm permit and attend a course on how to safely handle and use a firearm.

Warren County Emergency Management Director John Elfer said they have had churches reach out asking for firearm training and they have worked with numerous churches throughout Vicksburg and Warren Country to provide active shooter training.

“Obviously they need to do some type of active shooter training,” Elfer said. “Some of the churches have gone a step further and actually formally established security personnel inside the churches using current or former law enforcement who are off duty or who have been in the military or received firearms training.”

The active shooter training includes suggestions such as locking doors during the service and having members of the congregation positioned where they can watch what is going on and be on alert for any threats.

“We are encouraging churches and other businesses to come up with an emergency action plan that address the active shooter threat,” Elfer said. “The deal Sunday, he actually started shooting outside the church. Whether the church decides to have armed security that is a choice for the church to make. We are never going to make the recommendation. That is an individual decision the church has to make.”

Warren County sheriff Martin Pace echoed that sentiment saying, “I think each congregation should make their own decision as far as whether or not they want a person with a firearm in the congregation. That certainly is a decision that should be made by the congregation or the pastoral staff.”

He did caution churches that decide to have armed security or to arm members of the congregation that it could complicate maters if police were to respond to a threat.

“Whether it is a church or somewhere else, in the event something should happen and law enforcement is called, when law enforcement arrives and sees someone with a gun in their hand we have no way of knowing if they are friend or foe,” Pace said. “This is something that should be taken into consideration.”

His recommendation was to have a designated greeter who may be a deterrent to someone looking to do harm.

“The visible deterrent I think is an effective measure and that is having a designated person at the door as a greeter where people don’t just walk in with no one there to have a greeter at the door,” Pace said.

If you are interested in having active shooter training at you office or church, you can call the emergency management office at 601-636-1544.