FORT MYERS, Fla-- A Southwest Florida pastor is using Sunday's mass shooting at a Texas church as a lesson for his own congregation.
Pastor James Bing of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Fort Myers said he's teaming up with law enforcement to help educate members on what to do in an active shooter situation.
"We had a sheriffs department officer come out and instruct us on how to deal with an active shooter. Sometimes churches don't want to take practical things into consideration because the Lord is always going to protect us, and he will and he does but let's face it, there are some situations that we have to take charge of," said Pastor Bing.
Pastor Bing, whose been the pastor at Friendship Baptist Church for more than 30 years said shootings like these at churches will continue as long as they tolerate it.
"There are specific soft targets. Churches just happen to be one of them and you have some sick people out there and we have to make ourselves aware of the fact that there are sick people and we don't want to be suspicious of everybody who walks in the door," said Pastor Bing.
Although Sunday's mass shooting in Texas is the deadliest in state history, Pastor Bing said he does not believe it will scare people away from attending church moving forward.
"I don't think a fear factor will spread from Texas throughout the United States and people will be afraid to attend church on Sunday. But they do need to know that churches are taking some security measures and view what's happening on the landscape," said Pastor Bing.
