Free Republic

A recent Lifeway survey of Protestant pastors shows that armed congregants protect more than 50% of protestant churches. While these security arrangements vary in their level of sophistication on a church-by-church basis, nearly the same number of pastors who report the use of armed congregants report that there is an intentional plan in place to prepare for threats posed by an active shooter. Though various state and local laws currently regulate and limit the use of concealed carry weapons by church security teams in various locale, a proposed federal law would criminalize the preparations made by many armed church security...

When Genesse Ivonne Moreno opened fire at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston last Sunday, establishment media reports had the typical focus: she was schizophrenic, possibly thought of herself as a man, yet was still able to buy a gun with no problem, and the real problem is that Texas has no red flag law. While there can be little doubt that Moreno was severely deranged, the media reports are ignoring elements of the story that shed light on Moreno’s motives. Now, why might that be? One reason is that the left’s favorite religion is involved. Moreno made a donation...

Join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for AMERICA: For those in Authority in Government, Family, Military, Business, Agri-Business; End to Sex Slavery; Healthcare, Education, Churches, and the Media. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (1 John 5:14) Forum threads labeled [Prayer] are closed to debate of any kind.

A transgender woman armed with an AR-15 rifle opened fire inside a Texas megachurch on Sunday afternoon, bearing the words ‘Free Palestine’ on her weapon, as reported by various media outlets. Accompanied by a young child, whose relationship to the shooter remains unclear, the woman made a false claim of possessing a bomb, later refuted by Houston police who found no explosives in her backpack or car during a thorough search. Prior to being subdued by law enforcement, the woman allegedly sprayed an unidentified substance on the ground, as per CNN reports. Authorities have emphasized a meticulous investigation to ensure...

By now, you're aware that on Sunday afternoon, a deranged woman brought her young son and an AR-15 into Joel Osteen's Lakewood megachurch and opened fire. After the smoke cleared, the shooter, Genesse Ivonne Moreno, 36, had been killed by two off-duty officers. A 57-year-old man had taken a round in the leg; he was treated at a medical facility and released. And Moreno's seven-year-old son had been shot in the head. The boy remains in critical condition with a poor prognosis. It's unclear whether Moreno herself shot her child, but then, there are a lot of confusing details still...

The news is breaking today that the person who walked into Lakewood Church in Houston on Sunday afternoon and opened fire was transgender. I have been waiting for more information about this shooting, as a Houstonian, and as a media observer. When the shooting was breaking news, one aspect of the story didn't sit well with me. It seemed as though local law enforcement and the media were not transparent with all they knew. It seemed like they were holding back. Frankly, I was waiting for the shooter to be identified as an illegal alien. It turns out it is...

Lakewood Church shooter, an El Salvadorian immigrant (likely illegal) was previously detained by ICE, but records show she also voted in the 2020 general election????

JUST IN: The shooter at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church has been identified as a transgender Bernie Sanders supporter. Shocker. The individual was identified as Genesse Moreno who was previously known as Jeffery Escalante. Moreno, who is clearly unstable, allegedly brought a 5-year old to the shooting who was shot during the incident. The child is in critical condition. The gun that was used to carry out the mass shooting allegedly had "Palestine" on it.| Back in 2020, Moreno shared a photo of Bernie Sanders on Instagram with the caption: "I WANT HIM IN THE OFFICE as the US PRESIDENT."

The shooter who entered Lakewood Church on Sunday with a long rifle and child in tow has been identified as Genesse Ivonne Moreno, according to multiple sources. The 36-year-old previously identified as Jeffrey Escalante and had prior arrests for assault, forgery, marijuana possession, theft, evading and unlawful carrying of a weapon, according to KHOU's Jeremy Rogalski. Accoring to a Texas Department of Public Safety records search, her criminal report dates back to 2005. Members of the FBI, Conroe Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, Houston Police Department and Texas Rangers arrived at a Conroe home hours after the Sunday shooting...

A harrowing video shows the moment worshippers at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church ran for cover as shots rang out in the Texas congregation. The footage captured the horrifying seconds after a woman in a trench coat shot up the Houston megachurch of the celebrity pastor - before being killed by two off-duty cops. The suspect entered the building during a Spanish-language sermon with a five-year-old boy shortly before 2pm and the child was shot and critically injured. Images from the scene show the chaotic moment terrified congregants run to safety after hearing several shots fired. Police Chief Troy Finner said...

The individual who walked into Joel Osteen's Lakewood, Texas church on Sunday and pulled out a gun was identified as Genesse Ivonne Moreno, 36. Moreno had a 4 or 5-year-old child when entering the church wearing a trenchcoat. Local news reports that multiple sources have said that Genesse Ivonne Moreno is suspected of being the "armed woman" who was killed at the church Sunday. Reports indicated that the shooter was female, but it has since been revealed that Moreno was male. Moreno was shot and killed by off duty officers, and the weapon was emblazoned with the slogan "Free Palestine."...

Celebrity pastor Joel Osteen has said he's 'devastated' by the shooting at his Houston megachurch after two off-duty cops killed the shooter. Two other people were shot and injured, including a five-year-old boy who was hospitalized in critical condition. Osteen wrote on X that his 'community is devastated by today's events and grateful for the swift actions of law enforcement.' 'In the face of such darkness, we must hold onto our faith and remember that evil will not prevail,' he added. 'God will guide us through the darkest of times. Together, we will rise above this tragedy and stand firm...

Members of Pastor Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church were overcome with shock on Sunday afternoon after a woman described as wearing a trench coat and backpack and accompanied by a young child began shooting a rifle inside the church. She was shot dead by two off-duty officers. The woman, who has not been identified but was described as between 30- to 35-years-old, entered the Houston-based church just before the start of the 2 p.m. Spanish language service and was accompanied by a 5-year-old child. Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said during a Sunday press conference that the two off-duty officers —...

A child and a man were injured, and a woman was killed after opening fire at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston on Sunday, police said. The woman entered the church, accompanied by a boy believed to be about 5 years old, and started shooting, Police Chief Troy Finner said. Two off-duty law enforcement officers who were at the church when shots were fired about 1:50 p.m. opened fire, and the woman was killed, Finner said. The child was in critical condition, and a man, who is in his 50s, was being treated for an injury to his leg, Houston...

A shooter at Houston’s Lakewood Church was reportedly stopped by a Harris County Sheriff’s deputy working security at the church Sunday morning. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez responded to news of the shooting with an X post saying, “It is believed that a possible shooter is down, shot by one of our deputy’s on-scene. I’m enroute to the scene.” Click2Houston reported the shooter allegedly opened fire in the church lobby. The outlet noted that witnesses indicated “the shooter was possibly a female.”

Join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for AMERICA: For those in Authority in Government, Family, Military, Business, Agri-Business; End to Sex Slavery; Healthcare, Education, Churches, and the Media. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (1 John 5:14) Forum threads labeled [Prayer] are closed to debate of any kind.

Join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for AMERICA: For those in Authority in Government, Family, Military, Business, Agri-Business; End to Sex Slavery; Healthcare, Education, Churches, and the Media. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (1 John 5:14) Forum threads labeled [Prayer] are closed to debate of any kind.

A letter written by a Roman emperor helped lead a team of archaeologists to an ancient temple that "adds significant insights into the social changes" from pagan beliefs to Christianity in the Roman Empire, experts announced recently. The lead archaeologist on the expedition, Douglas Boin, Ph.D., announced the "monumental discovery" at the annual meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America, according to a news release from St. Louis University, where Boin is a professor of history. Boin said he and his team discovered "three walls of a monumental structure" that appears to have been a Roman temple from the Constantine...

Join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for AMERICA: For those in Authority in Government, Family, Military, Business, Agri-Business; End to Sex Slavery; Healthcare, Education, Churches, and the Media. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (1 John 5:14) I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone: for kings and all those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ~ 1 Timothy 2:1-2 Religion Forum Threads labeled [Prayer] are closed to...

When Nellie Gray founded the March for Life in 1974, she thought one big demonstration against the unjust and tragic Roe v. Wade decision the previous year would be enough to halt legal abortion in the U.S. History has shown her optimism was unfounded, but the bad jurisprudence imposed on our nation by those seven justices was finally repealed in 2022. And yet the March continues, as it must. The current occupant of the White House says his first priority if re-elected would be to re-establish Roe. Our vice president is about to embark on a nationwide tour to talk...