Stopping Vehicles Before They Become Weapons at Church
The Threat Rolling In
It doesn’t take explosives or bullets to cause mass casualties. A vehicle, weaponized with intent, can plow through a church entrance or outdoor fellowship area in seconds. That’s the kind of threat most church leaders never think about—until it’s too late.
Across the world, hostile actors have used vehicles to commit mass murder at places of worship. Some were jihadists. Others were mentally unstable. Still others were angry or intoxicated drivers who jumped a curb and ended up where crowds were gathered.
What many fail to realize is that the vehicle isn’t always the main weapon—it’s the opener. A bad actor can use a car or truck to breach the perimeter, disable victims, and create chaos—then transition into a mass shooting or stabbing. This tactic has been used overseas and here in the United States. It's fast, violent, and difficult to stop once it starts.
The problem is simple: most churches are soft targets. Entrances are wide open. Courtyards and walkways are exposed. Playgrounds are placed at the edge of parking lots. In many cases, a driver could cross the threshold of a church lobby without ever taking their foot off the gas.
Physical barriers like bollards are one of the most overlooked but…