A church in central New York has made it perfectly clear it allows its parishioners to carry weapons in the wake of last weekend's mass shooting at a Texas church.
The Lighthouse Mexico Church of God in Mexico, New York, posted a message on a sign outside the building that reads:
"We say it again. We are not a gun-free zone."
According to Spectrum News, Pastor Ronald Russell has extended the invitation to those who attend his church that they are welcome to carry while worshipping.
"Times are changing," Russell said. "It's not the congregation, per se, but the leadership. People say 'well, pastor, you're talking about killing some,' and I say 'well, if I don't protect my people, I'm being complicit.' A shooting here, that's not going to happen."
The church also offers training classes on self defense and identifying behavior that might be suspicious.
Mexico is north of Syracuse in Oswego County, close to Lake Ontario.
Sunday's shooting in Texas sent a jolt through America, with fears that other churches could be targeted as well.
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