Religion and Politics

Reese Oxner and Brian Lopez of The Texas Tribune report that Texas houses of worship were already increasing security measures before the recent hostage crisis at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville. They write, “Religious leaders in Texas, concerned about the violence and threats against places of worship in recent years, have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars and countless hours on training, security and preventive measures in case of an attack.” Many congregations partner with local law enforcement while others use funds from the federal government to improve their security measures. Some object to the presence of police officers or firearms in their houses of worship, but many leaders see them as necessary precautions to ensure the safety of their congregants.