MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — In the wake of a deadly church shooting in Minneapolis that killed two children and injured many others, congregations in Ohio gathered recently at Quest Church in Middletown for hands-on training on how to respond to violence in houses of worship.
The session, organized by the Buckeye Firearm Association and led by former law enforcement officers and professional trainers, included drills on tactics, medical response and the use of SIRT pistols. The training weapons are equipped with lasers to simulate real firearms. Organizers said the goal was to make the exercises as realistic as possible.
“It’s a sad reality that we have to have something like this in our churches, but we want to make sure that we are ready, prepared, and we’re in the right mindset for any situation that comes toward us,” said Kyle Eaton, who leads the safety and security team at Quest Church…