By Ann Marie Somma, Hartford Faith and Values
This week, Faith & Values news will explore what happens when violence crosses thresholds in churches, synagogues and mosques. Though deadly shooting incidents happen every week in public spaces, have these incidents become more commonplace in the holiest of places? How are houses of worship responding and preparing to defend themselves from intruders and attacks? To answer these questions, we’ll look at five cities in America and the painful realities, lessons and decisions taking place each day to keep worshipers safe.
Today, we’ll begin in Connecticut.
Ron Aguiar knows that the ringing of bullets in a house of worship will soon be followed by the sound of his ringing phone.
Aguiar is a church security expert who advises houses of worship on security strategies.
“After a church shooting people start Googling ‘church security,’ and they find me. It happens all the time, especially with stories that are sensationalized by the media,” said Aguiar, who also heads security at Southeast Christian Church, a megachurch in Louisville, Ky., with 32,000 worshipers.