When a gunman opened fire recently inside a Texas church, killing 26 people, Carl Chinn immediately hopped on a plane. He didn't know anyone in Sutherland Springs, where the shooting occurred, but they shared a connection --one that Chinn says has changed his life.
A former building engineer for Focus on the Family, the conservative religious organization, Chinn was present during two violent incidents at its facilities. As a result, Chinn began tracking deadly force incidents at houses of worship; he told Colorado Matters that there have been more than 1,600 such cases since 1999.
Chinn has formed a non-profit, Faith Based Security Network. Its goal is to help houses of worship prepare for and prevent acts of violence.
