Balancing Openness and Security: The Challenge Faced by Religious Schools in the Age of Mass Shootings

In assessing the security of various locations, experts often differentiate between “soft” targets like schools and “hard” targets such as police stations. The tragic shooting at a combined church and school in Minneapolis, which claimed multiple lives during morning Mass, represents an extreme instance of targeting soft targets.

Donell Harvin, former DC Chief of Homeland Security and Intelligence, noted that places of worship and schools are among the softest targets, and the shooter in Minneapolis clearly recognized this vulnerability.

The attack at Annunciation Catholic Church underscores the unique security challenges faced by religious schools in today’s era of school shootings. These hybrid institutions must strike a delicate balance between ensuring secure school grounds for children and maintaining the openness fundamental to organized religion.

John Miller, CNN’s chief law enforcement and intelligence analyst, highlighted this tension: “The first tenant is a school, which should prioritize security with a layered approach. However, the second tenant is the house of worship, which by principle is meant to be open to all at any time.”

Religious schools face increasing risks, as evidenced by the recent mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, and Abundant Life Christian School in Wisconsin. In addition, numerous mass shootings have occurred at religious institutions over the past decade, including attacks on the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

Geno Roefaro, co-founder and CEO of SaferWatch, a safety and security technology platform, emphasized the challenge of “hardening” locations while preserving their welcoming atmosphere: “That’s not the feeling of openness. At the same time, you need to protect everyone.”

SaferWatch addresses this issue by using technology such as security camera analysis and panic alarm systems to anticipate emergencies and warn people immediately. Roefaro explained, “It’s a balance between openness versus 100% lockdown of everything… Technology allows us to strike that balance more effectively.”

Private schools face additional challenges due to the disparity between centralized security measures in public schools and the decentralized nature of private institutions. Security at religious organizations may also be considered secondary to their primary focus, according to Roefaro: “Most of our places of worship customers are really just customers because they have a school on campus.”

Miller noted that Jewish schools have been leaders in adopting security technologies due to the extensive history of anti-Semitic attacks and terrorism. For example, the Secure Community Network, a nonprofit safety and training organization, assists Jewish institutions across the country in implementing security measures like cameras, alarm systems, and greeter guards.

The attack at Annunciation Church demonstrated the tension between openness and security. According to a senior law enforcement official, the shooter had visited the church weeks prior, claiming an interest in reconnecting with Catholicism at the school he once attended. Investigators believe this visit allowed the shooter to create a detailed map of the church’s interior.

The Annunciation Church handbook outlined some security policies, including designating the church as a shelter in case of emergency, conducting lockdown drills during the school year, and locking doors at specific times. The locked doors during Mass service helped prevent the tragedy from escalating, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara.

The shooter instead targeted the stained-glass windows, shooting through them into the church. Children described practicing emergency response drills, with one student noting that they had never practiced in the church building before.

A former Annunciation student who survived the attack expressed surprise, having expected such incidents to occur at public schools rather than churches. Despite practicing lockdown drills at school, she never anticipated a tragedy at church.