TAMPA, FLA. (WSVN) - Churches usually use their signs to post information about services and even to spread inspirational messages, but one Tampa church decided to warn wrongdoers: “Please know this is not a gun free zone.”
The Tampa Bay Times reported that Tampa Bay Church’s senior pastor Rodney Howard-Browne posted a message on his Instagram that reads in part:
“Please know this is not a gun free zone – we are heavily armed — any attempt will be dealt with deadly force – yes we are a church and we will protect our people”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BbMCcBVjJO9/?hl=en&taken-by=rodneyhowardbrowne
The message, which was published on Nov. 7, was signed by “The Pastors.”
Associate pastor Allen Hawes said the sign was put up about a year ago. However, the sign made its rounds again, this time on social media.
Hawes told the Times, “It is a deterrent. Look at what is going on. In the past two months, look at what happened in Texas. Look at what happened in Las Vegas. Because we are a church that is on television, we are very involved in the community. We want people to know that this is a safe zone.”
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