“Shocked but not surprised.”
Pastor Carl Gallups, a 10-year law-enforcement veteran, had a pithy reaction to the politically motivated attack on Republican congressmen and staffers in Alexandria, Virginia, Wednesday morning.
Gallups declared sympathy for the victims and hailed the bravery of police and first responders. However, he also warned it’s likely not the last attack of its kind in America.
“Consider everything which has happened in the recent past,” Gallups said. “Last year, we had a spate of police officers ambushed nationwide, as the radical Black Lives Matter movement indulged in anti-cop rhetoric. The threat of Islamic terrorism is greater than ever. The courts are preventing President Trump from implementing the kinds of common-sense security measures we need to prevent terrorism. And most of all, and most disturbingly of all, we see the radical left in this country engaging in rhetoric which can only be described as an open incitement to violence.”
The shooter has been identified as James T. Hodgkinson of Belleville, Illinois, a 66-year-old white male supporter of various far-left causes, including the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign. Hodgkinson was shot at the scene and died of his injuries.
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In one Facebook post, Hodgkinson referred to President Trump as a “traitor” who has “destroyed our democracy.”
“It’s Time to Destroy Trump & Co.,” the post concluded.
Hodgkinson also “liked” the Southern Poverty Law Center on Facebook, a far-left group that has been accused of inspiring the 2012 shooting on the Family Research Council.
Gallups, the author of several books including the self-defense guide “Be Thou Prepared,” says there is a climate of hatred in the country against Christians and conservatives. The Republican victims today, he opined, were simply some of the latest to be targeted.
“If you simply sit down and read the newspaper, turn on the television or scroll through left-wing sites on the Internet, it’s truly terrifying how much hatred and intolerance is being directed against Christians, conservatives and supporters of President Donald Trump,” Gallups said. “From the militant left-wing terrorists who dishonestly call themselves ‘anti-fascists’ to celebrities like Kathy Griffin making more or less explicit appeals to violence, the left seems to have lost its collective mind since the election. They truly believe they are living under some kind of an oppressive dictatorship and that all of those who disagree with them are somehow complicit in fascism or terrorism.”
The pastor said this process of demonization did not begin with Donald Trump.
“Consider something which used to be taken for granted, the right of Christians not to morally sanction homosexual marriage,” Gallups said. “Today, saying you oppose homosexual marriage for reasons of faith is a dangerous stance to take. You may lose your job or your business. You may be sued. You may be protested. You may be imprisoned. And I think a number of Christians increasingly realize they may be at risk of physical attack.”
Gallups urges Christians around the country, and especially pastors, to begin preparing their families and congregations for violence and civil unrest.
“This is a good thing to do even when there is no specific threat,” he said. “If you are faced with something unexpected, like a massive protest or a natural disaster, you will be extremely vulnerable unless you have made certain preparations in advance. But I think today’s attack shows Christian leaders should also be thinking about whether they or their congregations could be deliberately targeted, either by foreign terrorists or ‘fellow Americans’ consumed with hatred and incited by the anti-Christian media.”
Things are falling apart. Terror could strike anywhere. Are you and your family ready? “Be Thou Prepared” by Carl Gallups, available now in the WND Superstore.
Gallups said there are seven steps to surviving this kind of nightmare.
“The first and most important is “prayer.”
“Every Christian should cover themselves in prayer throughout the day,” Gallups said. “We hear endless stories about the power of prayer and God’s intervention in seemingly impossible situations. This is something I’ve seen in my own ministry.”
Secondly, Gallups says believers should “avoid dangerous situations if possible.”
“Obviously, this is not always possible, as we saw today,” Gallups said. “But you should always have situational awareness. The number of ‘safe’ places is declining, and even just being in public now entails some risk. If you are going to a concert or a public event, be especially on your guard. And don’t go looking for trouble, especially at protests and the like.”
The third step is to “be informed.”
“Always be aware of what is happening in your community, what groups are organizing and what law enforcement is saying,” Gallups advised. “Take it from me as a former law enforcement professional – the police always want to prevent trouble. Gather intelligence about those groups likely to cause trouble so you know what they might be planning.”
The fourth step is to “be prepared every time you travel.” Gallups said every American, in these times, has to constantly be imagining certain scenarios and preparing for the worst.
“If you are in your car, be thinking about what you have to do if you must abandon it,” he said. “Make sure you have a bug-out bag in your vehicle, a small backpack with water, food, medicine and whatever other supplies you need.”
The fifth step is especially relevant after Wednesday, Gallups said. It’s “personal protection preparation,” meaning weapons.
“I do not want to exaggerate, but there are so many people out there who want to hurt us, and it seems like the whole world is a battleground,” the pastor said. “It’s highly personal whether you want to carry a gun or not. But I would advise it, and further advise you be familiar with its use. You should also make sure you have a sturdy blade and extra ammunition in your bug-out bag.”
However, even the most conscientious person might be caught unprepared. Admitting this to yourself, and thinking about what you need to do in this situation is the sixth step. And even as a former policeman, Gallups admitted Americans should not expect the police to come and save them.
“As many have said, when seconds count, the police are minutes away,” he said. “Law enforcement will have its hands full in the first moments. Even if you see police at a disturbance, don’t count on them coming to help you. You must be prepared to defend yourself and your loved ones, preferably by escaping the scene. Your best bet is, if possible, to remain in one place until the danger passes. Resist the urge to be aggressive or confrontational if it could escalate the situation. And again, don’t go looking for trouble.”
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Finally, Gallups said “education” is the final step to safety.
“You should always be discussing with those you are responsible for what steps you will take if there is a dangerous situation,” the father and pastor said. “Obviously, we must trust in God and pray as if it all depends on him. But we must also work as if it depends entirely on us. And some of this preparation isn’t just logistical – it is spiritual. Steel yourself so if you are in a situation you will not panic and you will follow a plan. And make sure your children, loved ones or whoever you are with will do the same.”
The pastor foresees a time of trials for Christians ahead.
“These are prophetic times,” Gallups told WND. “Our faith will be tried; our courage as well. As Christians, we are called to live in victory, not to live in fear and anxiety. With just a little preparation and a lot of prayer, we can face up to what may be coming. I urge all Christians to awaken to the signs of the times and recognize we may not be able to take our comfortable and persecution-free lives for granted much longer. Prepare now, because if you want for a dangerous situation, it is already too late. But don’t fear – after all, if God is with us, who can be against us?”
Things are falling apart. Terror could strike anywhere. Are you and your family ready? “Be Thou Prepared” by Carl Gallups, available now in the WND Superstore.
