U.S. churches boost security after rising violence, with some pastors carrying guns and forming armed teams.

In response to a rise in church violence across the U.S., including recent shootings at a Minnesota Catholic school and a Michigan Mormon church, some pastors are adopting heightened security measures. Rev. Rodney Hudson in Baltimore now carries a gun and uses armed guards after surviving attacks, while others have formed volunteer security teams with military or law enforcement backgrounds. The Family Research Council reported over 1,300 hostile acts against churches from 2018 to 2024, including arson and violence. Leaders cite political tensions, mental health crises, and extremism as contributing factors, prompting widespread adoption of surveillance, active shooter plans, and armed protection, though not all pastors carry weapons.