Alabama may allow church to form own police force

If this law was strictly to authorize religious affiliated schools to have private security on school grounds during school hours and school events without jeopardizing the status of the attached church compound, that is one thing. But to suggest authorizing a police force for the church and church services as well is a step too far in my opinion. Yes it is a sad commentary that any member of a church feels the need for armed protection to attend a service.

Yeah i would be surprised at the number of churches have armed churchgoers but we're talking about hired armed guards and not private citizens concealed carry.

I said official as well. I'm confident that there are many churches that have hired armed guards already.

Maj John Bell - I posted the article thus I know what it says as well as have my stated opinion on what could be implied as well. If the church could pay for it's own armed security, it could use a private resource and not a public one. Looking for a law to sanction a police force using public assets will end up having taxpayers picking up part of the costs. Otherwise, I will continue to tell this Megachurch to go pay for a contracted private security; the police force has a larger responsibility to the community.

MAJ James Woods - I am sorry but the article clearly states that the Church will bear the costs. Where does the article state or imply otherwise? Even, I wouldn't support the church having its own police force if its was getting tax payer support.

Maj John Bell - The fact that you are looking for the word "imply" tells me enough about your comments. Looking for literal interpretation for your argument but showing no logical reasoning of developing your own interpretation, labeling anyone else's opinion on what is implied in statements made as false, and just being dismissive.
As stated before, the local police force is a public source and funded accordingly involving taxation. You can assume the church will reimburse all costs: salaries including OT, operational maintenance of any police equipment used, etc; I will assume that the city/town will be sharing the costs.

MAJ James Woods - Your words - "I posted the article thus I know what it says as well as have my stated opinion on what could be implied as well." So I was asking you to point out where in the article it was implied that the church was asking for tax payer subsidies of its' own police force.

From the article - "Asked why Briarwood wants its own force..." If anything this implies that the force is the Briarwood Police force and I take that to mean that they will not only pay the salaries, since it is their police force, they will also provide the equipment and other financial support. Are there words that I have missed that imply otherwise?