Minister Calls on Pastors to Bear Arms to Protect Their Flocks

Carrie Dedrick | Updated: Jun 19, 2015

Minister Calls on Pastors to Bear Arms to Protect Their Flocks

A Virginia pastor and politician is urging pastors to arm themselves in church, in response to the devastating South Carolina church shooting. Bishop E.W. Jackson, senior pastor Fall Church in Chesapeake and an unsuccessful Republican Party nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, said in a Fox News interview that pastors need to be prepared to defend their congregations. 

"I just think it's something we have to be aware of and not create an atmosphere where people take out their violent intentions against Christians," Jackson said. "And I would mention one other thing, and that is, I would urge pastors and men in these churches to prepare to defend themselves. It's sad, but I think that we've got to arm ourselves."

He continued, "If someone comes in to hurt my church members I have an absolute obligation to defend them, to protect them. Nine people are dead. I think that people understand that it's sad but this is the world we live in.”

At the same time, President Obama has responded to the devastating shooting that left nine people dead with a message supporting gun control, reports The Christian Post.

"Communities like this have had to endure tragedies like this too many times. We don't have all the facts, but we do know that once again, innocent people were killed in part because someone who wanted to inflict harm had no trouble getting their hands on a gun,” Obama said. 

Publication date: June 19, 2015



Minister Calls on Pastors to Bear Arms to Protect Their Flocks