As much as we’d like to think of churches as safe zones, crime statistics don’t back it up. Our houses of worship are no longer immune to violence. They’re becoming more vulnerable. That’s why protecting churches is now a hot topic and one that’s creating a lot of debate in Austin.
KFDM/6 News on Fox’s Angel San Juan looks into a state law that some church members believe is standing in the way of their safety. In a Special Report, Angel San Juan found that Texas is one of just three states — Oklahoma and Florida are the other two — that restricts church members from providing their own security.
Under Texas law, a church would have to establish itself as a security company and be licensed by the state or hire a company that is licensed by the state, which can be an expensive undertaking. However, violating the law can also be costly with fines up to thousands of dollars. Now, a group here in Southeast Texas is leading the charge to change the law.