Church Members Learn Responses If Shooting Incident Occurs

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP – Ed Moore brought a dire message to those gathered at Church of St. Katharine Drexel April 13. He spoke from a spot usually reserved for messages of love and redemption. 
Nowhere is safe. Nowhere is immune from attack. Be prepared for an active shooter, even in a house of God; he told members of churches and faith communities from three counties who had gathered for the event, organized by Tri-County COAD of Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland Counties. COAD stands for Community Organizations Active in Disasters.
Usually, the group is most active after disaster strikes, such as after Hurricane Sandy or other natural disasters, members said. Here, they sought to head off potential disasters, inviting Moore to speak on preparing for an active shooter in a house of worship.
Moore works with the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. He’s a Marine Corps veteran and a retired police officer who spent much of his career in Wall Township.
He told the ministers, local police officers, and congregation members at the church that he had given talks to many religious organizations, including mosques, Sikh temples, and churches throughout New Jersey, as well as talking about preparedness and security for other public areas.
He gave detailed, sometimes horrifying descriptions of armed attacks on schools, churches, theaters, concerts, and more, perpetrated by white supremacists, self-proclaimed members of the Islamic State, disgruntled workers, spurned lovers, and many others.
In lengthy comments, Moore discussed specific active shooter incidents, including some at churches such as the murder of 26 in a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas Nov. 5, 2017. He also spoke of the mass shootings in Columbine High School, the shooting in an Orlando nightclub, and a numbing amount more.
In one sense, each incident had little in common. The killers had varying motivations, were from different backgrounds, and had little in common that could be used to create a profile.
But there were some elements present in each. For one, the incidents do not last very long, usually a few minutes. Also, the shooter often planned ahead, and looked for easy, undefended targets.
The current recommendation for people caught up in an active shooter situation is run, hide, and fight.
If possible, Moore said, flee the area. Get outside and away from the building. Don’t grab purses or bags, leave everything behind. If possible, help those who need it.
If running isn’t an option, he said, find somewhere to hide out of the gunman’s view. He showed a video of a café during an attack in Paris, in which two women hid behind the bar.
One, the bartender, kept the other down. When the gunman passed, people got up from under tablecloths, invisible in that moment.
Filing cabinets make a good cover, he said, capable of stopping a bullet. If possible, lock and block off the door, then stay away from it in case the gunman shoots through the door.
Do not lay down, he stressed. Lying flat may seem like a good defense, but it makes it more difficult to move quickly in a dynamic and changing situation.
Also, he said, bullets will often ricochet and travel close to the ground, so someone lying flat is more likely to receive an injury to a major organ.
Turn off the ringer and vibration on your phone, he said, but do not turn it off. A phone can be a lifesaving means of communication.
Wait until you are safe to call 911, he said.
Typically, dispatchers are flooded with calls when a shooting starts. Then remain as calm as possible and give the dispatcher as much detail as possible.
As a last resort, when there’s no other option, fight back, Moore said. Fight to win. He suggested using whatever makeshift weapons possible. He suggested a fire extinguisher in close quarters, spraying it into the assailant’s face and then beating them with the metal extinguisher until they are down and stay down.
“I know I’m talking in a church, but I know God would not be mad if we’re defending ourselves from somebody who’s trying to kill us. And that’s the way you’ve got to think,” Moore said. “This is a battle you can’t afford to lose.”
Once the police arrive, he said, don’t make sudden moves and avoid pointing. Keep your hands up with your fingers spread.
Moore suggested churches should plan ahead for security, forming a security committee within the organization and appointing leaders. He also suggested meeting with police and other first responders who can help with planning as well as getting a look inside the building.
He also suggested keeping a high-quality first aid kit somewhere easy to reach in an emergency.
Rev. John Vignone, the pastor of the Church of St. Katherine, said the COAD approached him about holding the event at his parish. He agreed because he wanted to do everything possible to protect his parishioners and create a safe place.
Among Moore’s suggestions was inviting local officers to services and suggesting that they attend the services armed.
In New Jersey, off-duty officers have the right to carry a concealed firearm.
Near the close of the event, when Moore took questions, one man said he was uncomfortable with having armed guards in a church environment.
Moore stated that in most instances, off-duty officers would keep their weapon out of sight under their jackets. He said he would typically have carried his firearm at an event like the session, but he knew Egg Harbor Township officers would be there, so he did not think it necessary. Plus, it was too warm for a jacket on that spring day, he said.
Another man asked if New Jersey was likely to change its laws for concealed carry. New Jersey has relatively strict rules on licensing for carrying a concealed handgun, including a requirement to demonstrate why the handgun permit is needed. 
“I think they are, but I think they’re going to get worse. They’re going to make it harder,” he said. “(Gov. Phil) Murphy’s already said he’s going to make things harder, I think it’s going to be almost impossible to carry in Jersey.”
Lois W. Braxton, a member of Union Baptist Temple in Atlantic City, said she had been asked to improve security in the church.
She said she is a former police officer. She found some in the church did not want to make any changes to improve security.
“They’ll tell you how good a job you’re doing, but they won’t let you help save them. Other than with the word of God, of course,” she said.
To contact Bill Barlow, email bbarlow@cmcherald.com.