Why Armed Security — Not Unarmed Guards — Is the Right Choice for Houses of Worship
- Frank Sheldone IV
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
By Frank Sheldone IV, President/CEO, Armor Protection Group
Every Sunday morning, thousands of congregations across Arizona gather in a space built on trust, community, and openness. That openness is a spiritual strength — but in today's threat environment, it can also be a vulnerability. The question many faith communities are finally asking is not whether to have security, but what kind.
As a security professional with years of experience protecting high-risk environments, I want to address a conversation I have regularly with church leadership: the difference between placing an unarmed guard at the door versus deploying a trained, armed security officer. That distinction is not a minor one. In a life-safety emergency, it can be everything.
The threat landscape has changed
Houses of worship were once considered sanctuaries in every sense of the word. That era is behind us. The FBI's hate crime data shows a dramatic and sustained increase in attacks targeting religious institutions — and these incidents don't announce themselves in advance. They happen during holiday services, Sunday morning worship, Wednesday night Bible study. They happen in small towns and major cities alike.
Active threat incidents are fast. Most are over in 60 to 90 seconds. By the time a 911 call is placed and law enforcement arrives, the damage is done. That reality is the core argument for armed protection — not alarm systems, not cameras, not a well-meaning volunteer with a radio.
"An unarmed guard can observe and report. An armed officer can intervene. When seconds matter and lives are on the line, that difference is the entire equation."
Armed vs. unarmed: understanding the real difference
An armed security officer can actively neutralize an active threat, is trained in use-of-force and threat assessment, and serves as a visible deterrent — most incidents are abandoned when a threat actor identifies armed presence. Armed officers can hold a perimeter while awaiting law enforcement and are licensed and vetted to a higher standard under AZ DPS armed certification requirements.
An unarmed guard, by contrast, is limited to observation, reporting, and de-escalation. They cannot physically stop an armed attacker and may — unintentionally — provide a false sense of security to leadership who believe a visible guard is sufficient coverage.
Unarmed guards have real value in the right context. For access management, event crowd control, and general visibility, they fill an important role. But when we are talking about the physical safety of a congregation — including children, elderly members, and vulnerable guests — the calculus changes entirely.
Deterrence is the first line of defense
One of the most important benefits of armed security is one that never makes the news: the attacks that don't happen. Threat actors — whether ideologically motivated or otherwise — conduct pre-attack surveillance. They assess target hardness. A professional armed officer, clearly identifiable, positioned at entry points and moving through the facility, signals that this congregation has taken its security seriously. Many would-be attackers will simply choose another target.
Unarmed guards, by contrast, are often perceived as minimal deterrents. They can observe and report — but they cannot intervene at a level that stops a determined, armed individual.
Armed security respects your congregation's values
I understand the hesitation many faith communities feel. There is a tension between the welcoming nature of a church and the idea of armed officers at the doors. I've had this conversation dozens of times, and my response is always the same: the most loving thing a church leadership team can do is ensure that every person who walks through those doors goes home safely.
Armed security does not have to feel confrontational. A professional officer, in appropriate attire, trained in both threat response and interpersonal communication, can be a warm and welcoming presence while simultaneously being the most important layer of protection your facility has. The two are not mutually exclusive.
What to look for in a church security partner
Not every security company is equipped to serve a house of worship well. When evaluating providers, your leadership team should ask about Arizona DPS licensing and compliance, officer training specific to active-threat response, experience in soft-target environments, and whether the provider will work with your existing safety team or volunteer security ministry.
At Armor Protection Group, we have built our church security program around exactly these standards. Our armed officers are AZ DPS licensed (lic # 1706772), trained in threat assessment, and experienced in environments where professionalism and community respect are non-negotiable requirements — not afterthoughts.
Your congregation deserves more than a presence at the door. They deserve protection.
If your house of worship is evaluating its security posture, I'd welcome the conversation.
Frank Sheldone IV President/CEO, Armor Protection Group 602-730-4985 Ext. 1 | president@apgsec.com | apgsec.com AZ DPS lic # 1706772
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