Local Pastors Talk Security After SC Church Shooting

Panic, fear, terror – words not usually associated with a bible study.

"Growing up to me, one of the safest place you could be was church or school and now, that’s not true for either," St. Rest Baptist Church member Lillie Willis said.  

21-year-old Dylann Roof sat down with church members Wednesday night at Charleston’s Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church for about an hour before opening fire, killing nine people.

"It just kind of reflects back that that could’ve happened in our sanctuary, amongst our members," St. Rest Baptist Church Pastor D.J. Criner said.

Criner says the church shooting has sent shockwaves through the nation.

"Now its affecting the places of our sacred worship to where people should feel the safest, it seems like they’re kind of feeling more in fear," Criner said.

A surveillance camera at the church helped police identify and catch the shooter. Criner says they too have a number of security cameras and precautions in place at his church, but there are many churches who can’t afford such safety measures.

"There’s no metal detectors, no amped up security systems, especially if they are smaller churches like many of our brother and sister churches. There’s no individuals walking around armed with weapons and brandishing those weapons because it is a religious organization, it is a sanctuary," Criner said.

But it’s a sad reality, advanced security systems now becoming the norm for many churches.

"The doors are open. Anybody can come in. But we have main level security. This day in time is calling for this," Westside Church of God Pastor Paul Binion said.

Binion says society has evolved, but more needs to be done.

"This society, regrettably, even with all of the advances and all that we know, there’s yet a hatred of other people, purely based on who they are," Binion said.

Pastor Criner says they will be holding a prayer and solidarity vigil in honor of the Couth Carolina victims this Sunday at 8a.m. at Rising Star Baptist Church.