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Oakwood Baptist trains reaction team to protect church from armed threat
Decision to create team came after passage of Safe Carry Protection Act
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Chief Rodney Smith gives instructions to trainees Tuesday during a firearms certification test at Oakwood Baptist Church in Flowery Branch. The training session with Georgia Firearms and Security Training Academy concluded on Tuesday with a written test and a test on the shooting range for attendees to become certified. - photo by Erin O. Smith
A pastor, a 75-year-old Navy chief and a hunter line up at the firing range. Their mission: learning how best to protect their church from an armed threat. The three men take aim outside of Oakwood Baptist Church, where the Rev. Brian Evans and a handful of his church members trained in active shooter scenarios and situational awareness.