Florida bill would let churches use armed volunteers instead of licensed security

A Florida bill would allow churches, synagogues and mosques to use armed volunteers for security instead of costly licensed guards amid rising violence concerns. Second Amendment Florida bill would let churches use armed volunteers instead of licensed security Supporters say the bill aims to cut costs while still keeping people safe By Landon Mion Fox News Published February 23, 2026 3:55am EST Facebook Twitter Threads Flipboard Comments Print Email Add Fox News on Google close Video Fox News Flash top headlines for February 22 Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on FoxNews.com. NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A Florida bill could allow churches, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship to use armed volunteers for security without requiring them to hold a professional security license. Senate Bill 52, which unanimously passed the chamber earlier this month, would authorize houses of worship to use armed volunteers instead of hiring licensed security guards, which supporters say would help cut costs while still keeping people safe."It’s now common for synagogues, churches, and mosques to have armed security," state Sen. Don Gaetz, who sponsored this measure, said to FOX 13. "Often using paid professional licensed security personnel." SHOOTING OUTSIDE SALT LAKE CITY LDS CHURCH LEAVES AT LEAST 2 DEAD, 6 INJURED: POLICE A Florida bill could allow churches, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship to use armed volunteers for security without requiring them to hold a professional security license. (Getty Images) The legislation now heads to the state House. This measure comes amid concerns about violence targeting places of worship across the country. In August, a shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minnesota left two children dead and around 20 others injured. And in Mississippi last month, a suspect set fire to a synagogue, causing extensive damage and destroying sacred Torah scrolls.Elvis Piggott, the pastor at Triumph Church of Tampa, was arrested in October 2025 after allegedly pulling out a gun during a dispute following a Tampa City Council election forum. He later said he acted in self-defense. Piggott, reacting to reports of violence at houses of worship, said the threats are an unfortunate reality. Mourners place flowers at a memorial at Annunciation Catholic Church after the school shooting in Minneapolis in August. (Abbie Parr/AP Photo)"Some of these things you would have never thought in a million years would happen inside of the place of worship," he told FOX 13. "It can get very costly," Piggot said of hiring licensed security. "Just for myself at an event could be roughly $900 to $1,000 for two hours." If House lawmakers approve the legislation, it would then go to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. The changes would take effect in July if the governor signs the bill into law.TRUCK CAUGHT ON CAMERA PLOWING INTO FAMED AUSTRALIAN SYNAGOGUE IN ALLEGED HATE CRIME Senate Bill 52 unanimously passed the chamber earlier this month. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP "Unfortunately, when a lot of people are congregated closely together, that’s a high value target for bad guys," Aaron Chappell, who co-founded Vulture Training Group, a company that provides security guard certification and training, told FOX 13."Do you want somebody who is five or six minutes away?" he added. "Or somebody who’s on scene when something happens." Related Topics Second AmendmentReligionHate CrimePoliticsFloridaU.S. More from Politics 7 hours ago Suspect identified after fatal shooting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate: officials