Church Mutual Insurance specializes in insuring non-profit organizations like schools, houses of worship and camps. It routinely issues a Risk Radar Report. Eric Spacek is the assistant vice president for risk control at Church Mutual. He said this time around Church Mutual found safety concerns rising for people attending religious services and community events.
- 54% of us consider armed intruders or physical violence as a primary safety concern in those settings
- That’s way up from 2019 when just 10% of us had such concerns
“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,” Spacek said. “With 38% 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.”
Those responding to the survey had specific suggestions to improve safety:
- 56% want armed security
- 59% want more security cameras
- 47% want metal detectors
- 45% want more incident training for staff
These measures were seen as even more necessary if:
- There was a previous threat — 56%
- There was a previous incident — 53%
- There were demands from staff, volunteers, parents or congregants — 52%
- The facility is in a high crime area — 51%
Specifically:
- 72% think on-site security at houses of worship, schools, or nonprofit and community events should be a trained police officer/officers
- 75% said they’d feel safer at school and community events with an armed security guard
- Generation Z was the age group that felt less safe with those armed guards
- Just 27% believe their house of worship, non-profit or community group or school are adequately prepared for an armed intruder
- 50% have a lack of confidence that these groups are prepared for such an incident
“Recent security incidents in our country have Americans thinking twice about their activities. Gen X (40%), millennials (43%) and Gen Z (55%) respondents are more likely than baby boomers (27%) to be discouraged from attending community, nonprofit and school events, and religious services because of these incidents,” Spacek said.
Source link: Insurance Business America — https://bit.ly/3YxtmZz
