Uvalde, Texas school murder; four suggestions | Eastern North Carolina Now

Christian Action League Staff
Christian Action League
June 3, 2022

David R. Brumbelow is a graduate of East Baptist University in Marshall, Texas, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He served as pastor of Northside Baptist Church, Highlands, and previously pastored churches in Henderson and Beeville, all in the Lone Star state.

Brumbelow is the author of Ancient Wine and the Bible: The Case for Abstinence, which Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League, has said is the most comprehensive work on the question of abstinence from alcohol he has ever read. “It is, in my estimation, a must-read for believers who are serious about discovering what the Bible says about alcohol use,” said Creech.

Brumbelow has also taught Bible courses at Lee College, Baytown, San Jacinto College, Pasadena. He is a long-time friend of the Christian Action League and has a blog titled Gulf Coast Pastor, where he not only addresses the alcohol issue, but often weighs in on other social issues of significant consequence.

On Tuesday of this week, Brumbelow posted suggestions on his blog about dealing with mass shooters at public schools. Here is what he advised:

“We all grieve the incredible loss of life in the school shooting and murders [at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas]. I would like to offer four suggestions.

1. Every School Police Officer should be equipped with not only a pistol, but two other weapons.

First, an AR 15 or equivalent. Second, a high caliber rifle such as a .300 magnum or a .375 H&H.

Why? 

An AR 15 will put the police officer on much the same level as the active shooter. A rifle will allow him or her to shoot farther and more accurately, with a high-capacity magazine.

The addition of a high caliber rifle (more powerful than an AR 15 with .223 ammo) with a scope would allow the officer to shoot through body armor, or at least provide enough blunt force trauma when it hits the active shooter, to put him out of commission. It could be used for close or long-range shooting. 

The rifles can be kept in an easily accessible secured locker (the locker should also contain breach tools like a large crowbar, battering ram, body armor, shield, etc.). At times, though, the officer might choose to carry the AR 15; it might be good for students to get used to occasionally seeing it.

The School Police Officer would be the first responder, and should have these options immediately available. Thereby, the officer can instantly and aggressively respond to the danger. A school shooting is no time to simply secure the perimeter and sit around waiting for a SWAT team to arrive.

By the way, regular police officers should also have such firepower available to them in the trunk of their police vehicles.

2. School Teachers and Staff, who are comfortable doing so, should be allowed, and encouraged, to legally carry a concealed gun.

If students are hiding in a classroom and an active shooter enters or breaks in, most parents would be very happy if the teacher had a concealed weapon. They may not have an AR 15, but any gun is better than nothing against an armed murderer.

Do citizens with a concealed gun permit ever stop crime? Yes, on a regular basis. But it is seldom reported in national news. The day after the Uvalde shooting, a convicted felon began shooting at a crowd of people in Charleston, WV. He was using an AR 15 style rifle. A woman lawfully carrying a pistol shot and killed the man, probably saving a number of lives. Concealed carry often makes a positive difference! 

3. The spiritual life of our nation must improve.

A young man with no moral compass may view murder as a valid pursuit. A strong moral compass develops by respectfully looking to God, the Bible, church. If you want to measure the strength and stability of our country, one way is to check the health of our churches and other places of worship. Strengthen yourself and your family by attending and participating in church every week. Pray for a Revival, a Spiritual Awakening in America. It has happened before, it can happen again.

Churches seldom make headlines, they erase headlines!

‘Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.’  -John Adams (AD 1735-1826), second American president.

4. Family life must improve.

Parents who love each other and stay together improve the moral life of their children and the nation. Don’t have children until you are married. Parents, love each other and love your children. Spend time with them. Dad, be a real man and show your kids, through the years, how a man loves, provides for, leads, and protects his family.

Will we still have school shootings? Probably, but they will be reduced. There are other possibilities, but these suggestions can make a difference. May God bless and protect America.”

“It’s important for me to say that I don’t necessarily speak for everyone on this issue that supports or partners with the Christian Action League,” said Rev. Creech. “I speak for myself when I say that I agree with Brumbelow.”

“I understand how some of his suggestions may make Christians feel uncomfortable. But when the number of attacks on our schools and churches is dramatically increasing as seen in recent months, the response should be sufficient to meet the threat,” Creech added. “It is not unchristian for parents to want their children to be vigorously protected. Nor is it unchristian for teachers to be armed to protect themselves. While we work to address the underlying mental, emotional, and spiritual issues that foster our current culture of violence and death, we must be prepared to meet deranged and unmitigated forces with steadfast determination to stop it immediately. Defunded police and unarmed citizens won’t get the job done.”