Democrats and gun control activists have renewed their calls for gun control after a legally armed parishioner shot and killed a gunman who opened fire with a shotgun during a church service on Sunday. Two churchgoers died in the tragedy at the West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, Texas.
“As elected officials, we must do more to protect Texans,” state Sen. Beverly Powell, D-Burleson, said in a statement. “Months ago, I, along with many of my colleagues in the House and Senate, called for a special session to address the rise of gun violence in Texas. We can and must respect the Second Amendment, but the time has come to address serious solutions to save the lives of innocent Texans.”
Shannon Watts, founder of the anti-gun group Moms Demand Action, put a finer point on it:
“Armed parishioners and ‘security teams’ in places of worship aren’t freedom,” she said on Twitter. “They’re the cost of allowing gun lobbyists to write our gun laws.”
Media reporting that one armed security guard killed by the White Settlement gunman.
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) December 29, 2019
Armed parishioners and “security teams” in places of worship aren’t freedom, they’re the cost of allowing gun lobbyists to write our gun laws.
White Settlement #txlege
Republicans and pro-gun groups, by contrast, have praised the actions of the parishioner who shot the gunman mere seconds after he opened fire.
“It is obvious that many more lives were saved by the quick action of a church member who was fortunately armed as a member of the church security team. Had it not been for his quick action and accurate shooting, this could have been much, much worse,” said Second Amendment Foundation Founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb.
Texas Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick also highlighted the necessity of having armed personnel on hand when a shooting begins.
“The immediate responder is the most important; the citizen responder,” Patrick said at a Sunday evening press conference. “Because even though the chief’s brave officers were here in less than a minute … by the time they got here, the shooting was over. And that always happens, that over 50 percent of shootings, our first responders, it’s usually over when they get there, no matter how hard they try.”
SEE ALSO: Texas to Allow Guns in Churches Unless Expressly Forbidden
Officials have identified the parishioner who shot and killed the murderer as Jack Wilson, a former reserve sheriff’s deputy and firearms instructor. He was also the head of the church’s security team, according to CNN.
“The events at West Freeway Church of Christ put me in a position that I would hope no one would have to be in, but evil exists and I had to take out an active shooter in church,” Wilson said in a Facebook post. “I’m thankful to GOD that I have been blessed with the ability and desire to serve him in the role of head of security at the church. I am very sad in the loss of two dear friends and brothers in CHRIST, but evil does exist in this world and I and other members are not going to allow evil to succeed.”
In a comment below the post, Wilson indicates that he used a Sig Sauer P229 chambered in 357 SIG to take down the gunman.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton told reporters at a news conference on Monday that Wilson had trained many of his fellow parishioners in safe and effective firearms handling.
“My understanding is, he was a reserve deputy and had significant training, had his own shooting range, had taught other people how to shoot, had taught many people in this church how to be prepared,” Paxton said. “He’s not just responsible for his actions, which ultimately saved the lives of maybe hundreds of people, but he’s also responsible for training hundreds in that church.”
SEE ALSO: Texas Hero Speaks Out About Stopping Church Shooter with AR-15
The widely circulated video of the incident shows congregants participating in a communion service while the perpetrator stands in the back corner of the sanctuary. He appears to be wearing all black clothing, and witnesses say he was wearing a disguise, including a fake beard.
He approaches a parishioner standing behind him and speaks to him for a moment before pulling a shotgun from his clothing. Another man notices the shotgun, stands up, and reaches for something in his waistband. The gunman sees the man stand and shoots him point-blank before turning the shotgun on another parishioner and shooting him as well.
Meanwhile, a third parishioner, Mr. Wilson, pulls out a handgun and fires one shot from approximately 15 yards away, and the perpetrator immediately falls to the ground.
Congregants can be seen hiding underneath pews and running for the exit, and cries and screaming can be heard while several people attempt to help the victims.
The parishioner who fired the shot wasn’t the only armed person in the sanctuary that day. After the perpetrator falls to the ground, at least five additional men approach the murderer with handguns drawn.
The two victims have been identified as 64-year-old Anton Wallace, a church deacon from Fort Worth, and 67-year-old Richard White, of River Oaks.
I wish I could write something that would put things into context here, or maybe bring some consolation to those who suffered loss, or say something that would hammer some Logic and REALITY into the brains of these anti-gun, anti-American BLOODSUCKERS called politicians, but it is pointless! With the CLEAR evidence of WHY we have the 2nd Amendment, and how it actually WORKS, these blind, stupid, braindead MORONS – STILL call for disarming the VICTIMS as a solution to crime!!!!! They cannot be educated or changed! They are a LOST CAUSE! They simply Refuse to SEE! God Bless the Armed Citizens of our nation!
That “wack job” (if I’m still aloud to call him that!? Might hurt his feelings!) could have just as easily had a knife, bat, sword, hammer, or any number of weapons that could have killed several people before police arrived. The only solution was always going to be force on force. I wish this kind of thing never had to happen, but it does.
My brother in law is head of his church. They to have a security team made up of private citizens. Using volunteers is cheaper and unfortunately necessary.
It would seem that the Democrats and anti gunners would like to see less of this on the nightly news. They do not like when they are proven wrong in such an obvious fashion.
For now the only reasonable answer to suicide killers, is to have in place measures to stop them as soon as possible. That means having something more than just words to fight back with! Church, schools, work place, home, car, park, ballgame, concert, anywhere!
Hats off to the “well regulated militia”, that stopped this evil person from taking more free peoples with him. Boo on anyone that would suggest that they shouldn’t have been able to defend the lives of everyone in that church because no one needs a gun
It is basic logic in our current state of affairs that laws of prohibition only effect those people who are concerned with following the law.
A shooter is not ever concerned about legal channels of obtaining their weapon, or a permit to carry it. That man would have been in that church armed regardless of any previous prohibition, but the parishioner likely would not have been, since he is a law abiding citizen.
Additionally I noticed when watching the video of the event, that the muzzle flash indicates the gunman was firing a shotgun, and not an AR-15 as the article states, which would be substantially easier to obtain in the event that there were assault weapon bans put in place.
This horrific event took place in the great state of Texas last week.
A 2A respecting state. NO charges against a defensive shooting.
I’m in Arizona, also a 2A respecting free state, and would have also taken the shot.
However, mindful of deceptive, anti-gun, democratic judges, district attorneys and LE, could conjure up charges (shooting inside city limit, discharging a firearm, reckless endangerment…etc).
In unfriendly states like California, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and the rest….YOU are now the CRIMINAL…
Weighs heavy on my mind.
The problem with the D party is that it is run by women and women instincts take over for common sense and practical solutions. The Men in the D party have no (whatever) and do as their wife like associates dictate to them. Am I off base? Just count the women who hold the mike in the party in leadership (or vocal) positions vs the (emasculated) men and evaluate whose lead they follow (ex: AOC, Tlaib, Omar, Pelosi, Feinstein, Waters, Warren, Harris, Hirono, etc). Even their names garner more recognition. The men follow, domestically, directions what other ‘men’ might consider as ‘whipped’ or more politically correct, ‘compassionate without logic’. They simply and mindlessly mimic the narrative provided by their women. Even Schumer, Schiff and Nadler kow tow and lip sync to Pelosi’s direction. Think about it…..
I bet if there were any Democrats in that church, there real Happy.
I bet if there was a sign at the church saying this property protected by armed personnel maybe the shooting wouldn’t happened
I was going to comment on the responsees of Sen. Beverly Powell and Shannon Watts to this event but I realized my starting point of common sense and reality would have no common ground with their world. Best to let them blissfully exist in their insanity induced ignorance.
By the democrats logic we need a law that only a fireman is allowed to purchase, own and carry a fire extinguisher. Only doctors, nurses and paramedics should own and carry a first aid kit. After watch the video people who are advocating that citizens should not be armed are not ignorant untrained or mislead. They are attacking you and they want evil to be completely unchallenged and ln control. Wise up and vote these people out of office. G.W.
Excellent analogy: ‘That only a fireman should be allowed to purchase, own and carry a fire extinguisher. Only doctors, nurses and paramedics should own and carry a first aid kit.’ With your permission I will quote this from now on
Dan B; excellent. for years I told no-gun people that having a gun in the house was like having a fire extinguisher. you hope and pray that you will never need it, but if you do, you need it NOW, not in 5 or 10 minutes. presently, when they go on a rant, I ask them, “would you defend me in an emergency?” that usually gets them too.
Put these and other Democrats and Gun Control Advocates on the spot every time they hawk the gun control litany ; ask them what they specifically propose and how would their proposal(s) would have kept weapons out of the hands of the or a shooter and how their proposal would not infringe upon the normal citizen.
My previous comment was meant for G.W.
I do, however, concur with your idea to pose this question; I’d really like to hear the Democrats and Gun Control Advocates’ reply
The Universe isn’t a safe place.
It doesn’t care about man made laws.
It doesn’t care about Socialism, Capitalism, or Democracy.
The only way a person survives is by figuring out how the Universe works and acting accordingly.
the big lesson that should be learned here is lots of churchs have armed parishioners acting as security these days but how many of them have the repetitive training that this gentleman had to do a one shot stop like this?
Those who choose to serve their Lord doing this should catch the livestream later, and focus on the evil that might invade them during the actual service.
“Serious solutions while respecting the 2ND Amendment” Are all democrats this mentally defective?
An armed response was the Serious Solution.
[quote] Are all democrats this mentally defective?[end/quote] Hardly! They’re depending upon the ignorant public school indoctrinated masses to be though.
(sarcastically…)Vigilantism! Don’t we know that that armed parishioner endangered everybody in that church?! (And they will probably milk that as yet another reason to not go to church while they are at it.) (end/sarcasm)
Fact’s like these endanger their doctrine and school bred indoctrination and they can’t stand it! They’ll find some way to twist and defame the shooter and events,
Can you imagine how many people would be dead if the armed parishioners had not been there? Democrats have lost their minds. The criminals, nut jobs, and terrorists will NEVER turn their guns again.
I wonder if the murderer would have chosen a different church if he had known that there was an armed response team ready to defend….
In contrast, the anti gunners want all criminals to be sure that we all are disarmed and defenseless against murderers like this one.
We’re hearing the usual hypocrisy from the anti-gun crowd. Shannon Watts of Moms Demand Action doesn’t venture into public unless she’s surrounded by armed guards.
Ah, Shannon T’Watts, (AKA Monsanto Barbie) spouting off again. What a shock. I saw her in a blue dress recently. Wonder if it had any stains after a closed door session with Minor Mikie Bloomberg?
The truth is ,there is no one but yourself to defend you. The police are all after the fact.The military defends the nation not the individual.The second amendment Gave you the means to defend yourselves. To take away the right of self defense is against the law of nature and anyone who believes in personal freedom. No one who advocates the disarming of citizens to make them helpless victims of criminals or tyranny can call themselves either Americans or sane.
Sen. Beverly Powell, D-…. = Moron. He used a friggin shotgun !!! Other than a metal detector at every door , NOTHING could stop this. ESP more “gun control laws “. ( unless the law intends to confiscate every single firearm/gun of every type , and then it would take 20+ years to remove most guns from society ). Criminals would still have them . As well as smart non-criminals that hide theirs from gov’t seizure. Beverly Powell , sit-down , shut-up , and quit proving your ignorance.
One major fact they consistently ignore and overlook; Violence did not begin with the introduction of gun powder to the western world. Swords, arrows, knives, louisville slugger baseball bats, and ye olde tire irons are in plentiful supply. Even IF they could confiscate every gun in existence (excepting theirs of course!) that will not usher in an era of utopia.
They want to strip our rights for the same reasons serfs were prohibited from possessing swords!
Just an observation….. why don’t “good” (defensive) shootings stay on the news very long, if reported at all?
Why aren’t multiple shootings in Chicago reported as “mass shootings” ?
Do knifings and machete attacks prove gun control works ?
Why is criteria for “mass shooting” reporting defined by the AP ?
The liberals love to dwell on a shooting, especially a scary black rifle. Shotguns, machetes, good guys with guns and Chicago routines are outside the agenda. Don Henley covers that well in his song “Dirty Laundry”. And that is from “82”….
So what kind of ‘common sense’ gun control law would have prevented a murdering psychopath from entering the church, a gun free zone sign?
Let us PLEASE quit calling these Satanically inspired Communists, Democrats. Let us call them what they are, COMMUNIST, THE ENEMY WITHIN, DOMESTIC ENEMIES, ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL ANARCHISTS. We patriots need to rise up. The plan I propose, which has the least bloodshed associated with it would be this: Load all ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL TRAITORS onto a ship, with a one-way ticket, to a Communist/Socialist paradise such as North Korea, Russia, China, Venezuela, or other equally vile location. They will be much happier there and certainly they will never have to worry about any GOD-GIVEN RIGHTS causing them mental anguish. TARRED & FEATHERED of course, as they load onto the ship. We as Patriots can no longer tolerate the metastatic cancer known as Progressivism, Communism, Socialism, Liberalism to infect our Republic any longer.
And make sure the ship has a “slow” leak, sharks need to eat too!
I’m an old retire policeman, Gun control is not about controlling firearms, it about controlling people,. The politicians wish to control our entire lives. It’s their start of socialism.
Guns have been in church since the founding of this country. Men never left their homes in the country without their gun. Wild animals (called thugs today), indians, evil men, etc. have been around since Cain killed Abel.
democrats are followers of Joe Stalin, a murdering, America Hating Commie They are no different and should be treated as such.
Of course the Demoncraps want no guns in church, they want all Christians DEAD as the Dems are satans spawn!
They want Christians dead because Christians are the only people whose religious ideology support our God-given rights. Get rid of Christians and you get rid of “rights” and have have unlimited control over the people!
once a legal good guy takes out a illegal bad guy – what the hell is the problem.
‘
Holy…are they for real? These idiots that say people shouldn’t have a gun in church? It’s exactly where it was needed. There is video evidence of it. So it is a fact. Not made up bs. Yet they still disagree? They should be removed from office and all further comments, due to their obvious ignorance, should be rejected.
The critics don’t go to church. It’s that simple. They don’t believe in God or their Country. They are self serving ingrates.
Gun Control? How about some Nut Control?
The 2nd Amendment will ALWAYS Have the Support And Protection it Needs to Survive as long as there are Freedom Loving People who are courageous, and intelligent enough to know that Government and Tyranny have a symbiotic relationship, and that ONLY an Armed Citizenry can Limit it’s scope, and power
The dems are garbage. They would have people laying dead in the aisles of that church simply because “they” don’t believe in the second amendment but drugs are okay, probably so you can’t feel pain. COWARDS
Every 2nd Amendment supporter should be happy to hear anti gun spouts from liberals. Especially if they are stunning for President. Crazy shit like that will make sure they never get elected in office again. I would think most democrats are starting to see how far beyond insane they are, and getting more radical by the day. Let them dig their own grave….. again!
That will NOT stop them from being elected because the voters who elect them are of a criminal mindset too! ALL leftists have an innate desire to commit crime — they live on the ideology of greed and doing anything to get more money. The best way to be a successful criminal is to get rid of your greatest threat, which is NOT law enforcement, it is good people with guns!
We have to be responsible with the publicity we give these criminals who perpetrate horror. They are made famous, with pictures of them when they were cute, publishing of their rants and manifestos, interviews of their parents,etc, etc.
Our “entertainment news” is making a national sport of this, whipping up crazy people to seek new heights of horror and notoriety. No shame, just fame.
The press in other countries voluntarily restrains itself to avoid fanning the fires of insanity.
I guess there’s just too much advertising revenue at stake and political agenda hay to be made to resist.
I would not doubt that the “anti’s” are coming in the back door to set off the marginals and the unhinged to perpetrate incidents to help further their agenda! they throw shade on every single thing that happens with their single, narrow view with no thought on whether it was a positive out come or a negative. Their slander on every single law- abiding citizen who chooses to be able to protect their family and friends seems to be an offense to them. Yes, lives are lost everyday, whether it is by automobile, implement, or drugs……legal or illegal. Run a stop light and flip a school bus full of children, take your sword and make a plow share and then attack your neighbor with your garden hoe because their dog is on your lawn, take two prescriptions that are prescribed to you that are lethal together. so many other things that need to be addressed, so many laws already on the books. What happens at the next bridge collapse and many lives are lost, what do we call that, a mass…..failure…
Hear Hear!
I also support ccw and do so myself. What bothers me is when I read about anti this or anti that with little or no sources cited.
Please list this in future for persons as myself so we can reference them as participants.
Article mentions 2 by name.
Two primary Heros, Good Guys with Guns. Ones efforts (trying to draw against an already pointed weapon) is almost always a loosing proposition) drew the murders attention and he was killed but that act: allowed the other primary Hero time to start his response. The murderer’s second shot claims a another victim. Hero Jack Wilson gets a clear shot and fires one round stopping the threat/attack with a head shot. The BG actually fired a third shot (muzzle flash) instantaneously (+-) as he is hit but there were no other injuries reported.
These heroic Good Guys with Guns (several more “armed defenders” moved in within seconds) greatly limited the murderous carnage BG intended, including putting themselves in harms was and making the ultimate sacrifice in order to save others.
I find the gun-grabbers comments obnoxious, disturbing and discusting! These heroics and sacrefice are snubbed in favor of their political/group stance that all guns are bad and only eliminating all guns will create a safe U.S.. They go further lying that they support the 2A while wanting to infring further on Gun Rights. They have no grasp of what “Freedom” actually is and that what they have been doing for years has erroded Fredoms and cost hundreds if not thousands of lives with “Gun Free Zones”AND THE EXPANSION of them into the private business sector, opposition to: CC/OC, what you can own, what accessories you own, what ammo you own and how many cartridges you can buy or have in a firearm/ammunition device. Their willing ignorance
Is reflected in all they say and do. I can’t wait for their spin “You only need a cartridge capacity of one round for defense.” based on this incident.
They keep blaming lawful gun owners and the “Gun Lobby” for every damn criminal act for which laws already exist to punish the guilty. Wait till gun owner start protecting their Rights en masse protest instead of the polite Gun Lobby.
Well said, Will!
Will,
It’s not ignorance on their part. It’s that they are totalitarian in nature and want nothing more than to work towards enslaving their fellow citizen like so many have in history past.
The right side has consistently miscalculated these folks as ignorant, but they are not and neither was Hitler, Mao, Stalin, etc. Make no mistake, these folks are evil and will not stop until they are successful in destroying freedom and liberty of the individual.
Know your enemy and understand them. We’ve failed to do that for quite some time now.
Once again the anti-2A group is on the wrong side of right. There were five guns pointing back at the one crazy…good, but not good enough. Everyone that is legal to own and carry a DEFENSIVE firearm should.
Different perspective
Guns not the issue: knives, rocks, bats, crowbars, hammers, etc.
Guns have not been invented yet.
You are part of a community (village) and are mutually responsible for the safety and well-being of your citizens. (Old, young, disabled, etc.)
What course of action would you take if there were an invasion from a group that wanted your belongings and to do harm to those who stood in the way?
This would include a neighboring country as well.
Would you go like-for-like for your protection and enlist as many of the concerned able-bodied citizens as possible?
Democrats and anti-2A groups think that making new laws will stop someone intent on doing something illegal. Let’s put this into simple terms. Speed limits for instance. The sign telling you the speed limit is 30mph does not make it so can’t do 40mph. It only means if you do there will be punishments if caught. Laws do not make it so you can’t do something wrong. They only mean that you shouldn’t do something and if you do there will be punishments. When I hear law makers say “I support the 2nd Amendment, but..” then they do not support the 2nd Amendment. It is all or nothing. It is summed up in a few words…SHALL NOT INFRINGE!