From Thirdpower, I saw this article
MARYVILLE, Ill. (March 8) -- A gunman walked down the aisle of a church during a Sunday service and killed the pastor, then stabbed himself and slashed two other people as congregants wrestled him to the ground, authorities said. The man walked into the sprawling red brick First Baptist Church shortly after 8 a.m. and briefly spoke with The Rev. Fred Winters before pulling out a .45-caliber handgun and shooting Winters once in the chest, said Illinois State Police Master Trooper Ralph Timmins.
MARYVILLE, Ill. (March 8) -- A gunman walked down the aisle of a church during a Sunday service and killed the pastor, then stabbed himself and slashed two other people as congregants wrestled him to the ground, authorities said.
The man walked into the sprawling red brick First Baptist Church shortly after 8 a.m. and briefly spoke with The Rev. Fred Winters before pulling out a .45-caliber handgun and shooting Winters once in the chest, said Illinois State Police Master Trooper Ralph Timmins.
I carry to church because there are people out there who do not respect the sanctuary. There are crazy people, and there are those who hold different faiths who cannot stand to see their faith (or complete lack of) challenged. Those who cannot accept that others hold differing beliefs can turn violent, sometimes in an attempt to 'prove' that belief system is wrong.
I will not simply sit by and let someone massacre my family, my friends, or myself. To attack them with fists, a hymnal, an offering plate, or a gun only differs in effectiveness, not morality.
Now, in this case, there was nothing that could have been done. A sucker punch is a sucker punch. If every last member of that congregation had been armed, Pastor Winters would still be dead. The best outcome would have been less harm to some of the other members who received stab wounds.
These people were lucky that the shooter simply went after the pastor and had his gun jam. Had he been able to shoot others in the church, there wouldn't have been much anyone could have done except run and wait until he was out of ammunition. Those who tackled him had the right idea – to fight back – and bless them for putting themselves into harms way to protect others. That's true courage (remember, with my gun, I keep myself at a distance and out of harm's way).
My prayers go to the church, its families, and especially the family of the Reverend.