God and a Glock: Texas churchgoers are training to fight off attackers wielding guns

A cottage industry is growing in Texas of security firms that train churchgoers with police-like tactics.


Jason Johnston, from Fellowship of the Parks Church in Grapevine (right), and Les Davis, from Creek Church in Saginaw, practice searching and clearing a hallway during a Sheepdog Defense Group armed security programs church safety training session at Cornerstone Community Church on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020 in Springtown, Texas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)

By Allie Morris
Dallas Morning News
Feb 7, 2020

HURST — Beneath the Christmas lights still hanging in the church’s fellowship room, Jack Mills pointed a Glock handgun at his enemy’s chest and pulled the trigger.

A loud crack rang out as a shell casing flew from the weapon, but the man facing the gunfire didn’t fall. Instead a red light on his high-tech vest began blinking, signaling a hit from the laser in Mills’ gun.

A U.S. Air Force veteran, Mills began designing the equipment a year ago to help armed churchgoers learn how to confront a gunman. Shooting a paper target is one thing, Mills said. Firing at a real person is another.

“If you haven’t shot somebody in the face, how do you know you can?” he said.

Mills is part of a growing cottage industry in Texas that uses police-like tactics to train churchgoers who fear the next attack could target their house of worship.