VI – Self-Defense

Presidential Executive Order Protecting Second Amendment Civil Rights

President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order Feb. 7, 2025, to safeguard Second Amendment rights. The order directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to review regulations employed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), previous administration White House gun policies, and firearm reclassifications that may have violated Americans’ US Constitutionally-protected right to bear arms.

Emergency Communication Plans for Churches

When (not if) your church experiences an emergency or critical incident—such as a destructive tornado, a grave medical episode, or an active killer crisis—clear, rapid, and frequent communication with your congregation, public safety agencies, and local news media is necessary to maintain order, prevent further injury, and provide strong leadership.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, A Prayer for Church Security Team Members ]

This article on Religious Product News, written by Protect His House, will help you create and implement an emergency communication plan tailored to your church’s needs.

Its main points are:

Video: The Role of Armed Citizens in Active Violence Incidents

The complex topic of armed citizens in active violence incidents is discussed in the video below by a panel of law enforcement and emergency response experts on the vodcast YouTube Channel of the National Center for Integrated Emergency Response (NCIER).

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Concealed Carry Daily Prayer ]

The video discussion includes:
      Potential benefits and risks of armed citizen intervention
      The critical importance of proper training and ongoing skill maintenance
      Legal and ethical considerations for carrying and using firearms
      Proper interaction with law enforcement in post-incident scenarios

The Swiss Guard: Early Church Security Team

While some people assume the concept of a church security/safety team is a modern idea to defend against criminals and terrorists, it actually extends back at least half-a-millennium, to the days of Christopher Columbus, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Middle Ages.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, A Prayer for Church Security Team Members ]

Under Pope Julius II, the Swiss Guard was founded January 22, 1506 to be the protector of the church and defender of the papacy.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Chart: The Spectrum of Potential Threat Personas in Self-Defense and Church Security ]

Today’s Swiss Guard is equipped with modern small arms and members in plain clothes now accompany the pope on his travels abroad for his protection.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Inspiring Military Mottos ]

Its motto is “Fiercely and Faithfully.”