Sunday, a man killed two people in a White Settlement, Texas Church, before a member of the Church’s volunteer security team killed him ending what could have been a mass shooting. Alabama Republican candidates for U.S. Senate praised the hero, Jack Wilson, and vowed to defend Americans Second Amendment rights to self-defense if elected.
“Thank God for Jack Wilson,” former Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “The man is a hero — his bravery and skill saved lives at West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, Texas. May God be with the families of the two church members who were killed by the gunman.”
“This is what the Fake News doesn’t want you to see! So many lives saved thanks to a good guy with a gun,” Congressman Bradley Byrne, R-Montrose, said. “If the Democrats had it their way, they’d take away our God-given right to defend ourselves. I won’t let that happen!”
Former Auburn head football Coach Tommy Tuberville said on social media, “Criminals don’t care what the laws are…that’s why they’re criminals. “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”#TeamTub #GOP #2A”
Sessions, Byrne, and Tuberville are candidates for the Senate seat currently held by Doug Jones (D).
At least eight of the Texas church members drew weapons in response to the attack.
Earlier in the year, Texas governor Greg Abbott (R) signed a bill making it explicitly legal for Texans with concealed-carry licenses to bring their weapons into places of worship. This overturned a previous Texas law that banned guns in Churches.
Second Amendment supporters are urging more Americans to purchase guns, get their concealed carry permits, and carry their firearms with them to stop future mass shootings.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) praised the “heroic efforts” of the armed Church members.
“What I will say is they were heroic efforts. And I have been saying this for years,” Abbot said. “We need to make sure that people with protect themselves. Oftentimes law enforcement can’t react quickly. They can’t be there in seconds when the shooters are suddenly shooting. And so it really is a remarkable thing the people reacted so quickly. And saved the lives of the other 239 people in the congregation.”
The Republican primary is on March 3.
Legislation to explicitly protect Church members right to carry firearms in self defense and to use those weapons to protect the parishioners is expected to be introduced in the Alabama Legislature in the coming legislative session as will legislation ending the requirement that Alabamians have to have a concealed carry permit to carry their firearms.
