Mississippi Church Protection Act
2019 Mississippi Code
Title 45 – Public Safety and Good Order, 45-9-171 – “The governing body of any church or place of worship may establish a security program by which designated members are authorized to carry firearms for the protection of the congregation of the church or place of worship, including resisting any unlawful attempt to commit a violent felony listed in Section 97-3-2(1). “
When the Mississippi Church Security Act was passed, many churches began to create a Church Security Team. The stipulation is that all team members must posses a Mississippi Firearms Permit and have completed an Enhanced Permit Carry Course.
” The program at a minimum must require that each member of the program possesses a firearms permit issued under Section 45-9-101 and has completed an instructional course in the safe handling and use of firearms as described in Section 97-37-7, is a law enforcement officer as defined in Section 45-6-3, or is a qualified retired law enforcement officer as defined in 18 U.S.C. Section 926C(c). The program may also include one or more persons with law enforcement or military background who may assist the church or place of worship in training of the members of the program.”
Unfortunately, the state of Mississippi limits the training requirements for Enhanced Permit instructors. They specifically don’t want students drawing from a holster or doing advanced training in an Enhanced Permit Class. So while an Enhanced Carry class may meet the legal requirements for a security team member , it does not provide the skills necessary to draw and put accurate shots on target quickly. Even though the law allows police or military to help train other team members, that may not be enough. Police academies and the military members rarely get the type of training that test their skills under stress. While the Lakewood Church shooting may be heralded as example of highly trained off duty officers quickly ending an Active Shooter, a recent after action review shows otherwise. Click HERE t0 see what went horribly wrong with the response.
Boondocks Church Security Team Training
A Church Security Membership at Boondocks is only $750 a year! With the membership, all team members have access to our ranges daylight to dark, 7 Days a week to practice. In addition, a membership provides up to two group range qualifications using Mississippi Law Enforcement approved course of fire conducted by a Boondocks’ instructor. At the end of each qualification, the Church Team Leader will have on file a Record of Training for every team member. Boondocks also offers more advanced training, including an onsite evaluation, live fire courses specifically designed for church security, a lethal force simulator class and scenario based force on force training.
Why is Advanced Training Important?
Even with the passage of the Church Protection Act, if one more of your team members have to use a firearm to defend your congregation, there will still be an investigation. A prosecutor will likely want to know what level of training does the team have and how often does team train. In a previous Church Security seminar conducted by former Rankin and Madison County District Attorney, Michael Guest, he encouraged semi-annual or at least annual training. He said the last thing you want to say in front of a prosecutor or jury is that your last training was an Enhanced Carry class 8 or 10 years ago.
To learn more about these options check out our Church Security Membership, visit our Church Security Training Page or email chad@boondocksfta.com.
