church security stats
- Between 1970 and 2017, 150 terrorist attacks in the U.S. targeted religious figures and institutions.
- Fifteen of these attacks were lethal. They killed 42 people, including three perpetrators, and injured 38 others.
- The majority of these attacks (79%) targeted places of worship, including churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples.
- Fourteen percent targeted religious figures, including imams, ministers, priests, and rabbis.
- 7 percent targeted religiously-affiliated institutions, primarily community centers.
-National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism-
1. Does your Church have a safety plan?
Unfortunately, more often than not, the answer to this question is a resounding "NO."
One of the greatest blessings of citizenship in America is our constitutional right to exercise our freedom of religion, but like other rights, can be egregiously attacked by those who wish to do us harm, or to otherwise undermine the foundation of our nation's values.
In order to prevent physical attacks against our freedom we must smartly consider current threats and then build a plan to engage these threats.
2. Has your Church conducted a Vulnerability Assessment?
So what is a "Vulnerability Assessment?"
A "Vulnerability Assessment" is an objective review of your Church's ability to effectively secure against active threats to your membership and facilities. One of our trained Knight Protectors will first sit down with your Church's key staff to gain an understanding of currently employed security measures and then address your additional security concerns. Next, a Knight Protector will conduct a physical survey and inventory of your Church facilities, equipment, plans, and processes as they relate to mitigating potential security threats. This information is then consolidated into a "Vulnerability Assessment" document and provided FREE OF CHARGE to your Church as a reference point for future security enhancement.
3. Did you know that your Church may be eligible for security grant funding?
Indeed, grant funding, of up to $250,000 is available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
FEMA has the statutory authority to deliver numerous disaster and non-disaster financial assistance programs in support of its mission and that of the Department of Homeland Security, largely through grants and cooperative agreements.
With that in mind, the administrative processes and stipulations, to receive grant funding for your church, may - at times - seem a bit overwhelming to the uninitiated, and otherwise difficult to navigate. That's where we can help.
Your Knight Protector representative will assist you in learning about the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) and the documents required for the grant program.
