Americans’ Concern With Safety in Religious, School Settings Climbs: Survey

More than half of Americans (54 percent) say their top safety concern while attending religious services or community, nonprofit and school events is an armed intruder or physical violence incident, a new survey highlights.

Since 2019, armed intruders and physical violence have increased as a top safety concern (10 percent) for Americans, according to the Risk Radar Report – Safety in America, published by Church Mutual Insurance Company, an insurer of nonprofit organizations, schools, camps and houses of worship.

“We have been asking Americans about their safety concerns for several years. Except for 2021, when the top concern was understandably the COVID-19 pandemic, armed intruders and physical violence have continued to take top billing,” said Eric Spacek, assistant vice president – Risk Control at Church Mutual. “With 38 percent of Americans saying they feel less safe, we are seeing greater interest and support for armed security and other safety measures organizations need to carefully consider and prepare for before adopting.”

The report revealed a desire for protection.

• Armed security (56 percent), security cameras (59 percent), metal detectors (47 percent) and incident training (45 percent) were safety measures favored by those surveyed.
• Respondents said the safety measures are warranted if there has been a previous threat (56 percent); previous incident (53 percent); there is demand from staff/volunteers, parents or congregants (52 percent); or the organization is in a high-crime location (51 percent).
• Respondents said armed security on-site at houses of worship, schools, or at nonprofit or community events should be trained police officers (72 percent).
• Though three-quarters of respondents said they would feel safer having armed security at school and community events, Gen Z respondents were less likely than other age groups to feel safer with armed security present.
• Most respondents said there is a need for improvement when it comes to security at such events.
• Just 27 percent of respondents felt their house of worship, nonprofit or community group, or school is prepared for the possibility of an armed intruder, while 50 percent believe their organizations are not prepared.

“Recent security incidents in our country have Americans thinking twice about their activities, said Spacek. “Gen X (40 percent), millennials (43 percent) and Gen Z (55 percent) respondents are more likely than baby boomers (27 percent) to be discouraged from attending community, nonprofit and school events, and religious services because of these incidents.”