In Texas, a small town reels – and rallies – after church shooting

The Christian Science Monitor ^ | Nov. 6, 2017 | Henry Gass and Harry Bruinius, Staff Writers

[Jagermonster]

SEARCH FOR SOLUTIONS   After the deadliest mass shooting at a place of worship in US history, residents of Sutherland Springs vowed to move forward and reclaim their beloved way of life.

SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, TEXAS, AND NEW YORK—On a normal day in Sutherland Springs, Texas, all there is to fill the country air is the barks of local dogs and the hum of cars passing by. Indeed, locals say – with a hint of pride – you can drive through this town of several hundred without even noticing you did.

But Sunday was not a normal day here. Instead, a lone, black-clad gunman shattered the town’s tranquility with a hail of bullets that left at least 26 dead and 20 wounded in the First Baptist Church. Neighbors chased the gunman away and found him dead in his crashed car in the next county.

The tragedy in a close-knit, rural town that considers itself just outside of San Antonio’s commuting range was a reminder that in America, while a town may not have a single traffic light, it can still have a mass shooting.

“It’s a peaceful town. Everyone knows everyone,” says Rita Serna, who grew up in Sutherland Springs and sang her first solo in the First Baptist Church.

“It’s sad, disturbing, unbelievable,” she adds, “but possible in today’s times.”

As many Texans proudly point out, church life permeates much of Texas culture. And while it has more than 200 megachurches and dozens of evangelical colleges and universities, churches like First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs still define the daily rhythms of life in many rural Texas communities, local pastors say.

“It’s the kind of little church my dad pastored when I was growing up as a kid,” says the Rev. Bob Roberts, a...

[Jagermonster]

Excerpted per rules. Photos at link.

[Safrguns]

I was not there, and I cannot say what I would have done had I been there... but one of the things that bothers me about this incident is that the shooter was reportedly walking down the isle shooting at point blank range.

How does someone do that without putting their back to others?
This guy should have been tackled from behind after the first couple of shots, if not charged from the front by multiple people.

After the Vegas shooting, I doubt you will find another outdoor concert like that without snipers in the security detail. After this, I doubt you will find even small churches like this without some form of armed security.

But gee wiz... how do you get away with firing multiple shots when you are surrounded by unarmed victims at close range?