Straight Arrow News: Security guards have prevented deadly attacks. Religious leaders petition Congress to fund them
Attacks on places of worship in the past year have resulted in 11 deaths and dozens of injuries. Leaders have lobbied lawmakers for more protections, warning that the status quo will lead to more incidents, affecting their congregants’ sense of security.
Amin Abdullah, 51, an armed security guard at the Islamic Center of San Diego, was credited with putting his life on the line and protecting the Monday mosque shooting from becoming a high-casualty incident. Guards like him are expensive to come by, but a need for religious organizations as gun violence continues in the nation, religious leaders told Straight Arrow.