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Meet the Gun-Toting Preacher Who’s Training Texas Teachers to Arm Themselves in the Classroom

Feb. 12, 2013 11:53am Billy Hallowell

James McAbee is a Christian pastor at Lighthouse Worship Center in Beaumont, Texas. But he’s also a licensed gun owner who’s known around around town as the pistol-packing preacher. Since thwarting an attempted robbery at his church in 2011, McAbee has been encouraging others to prepare themselves for some good ‘ol fashion self-defense. Following the Sandy Hook massacre, the faith leader began offering local school teachers free concealed carry handgun classes.

McAbee, a fervent believer in the Second Amendment, claims he’s regularly armed with a Glock that has “17 in the clip and one in the hole” — even when he’s spouting Biblical messages from the pulpit. The Christian leader told Fox News’ Todd Starnes that he believes guns have the power to save lives.

“I believe God used David with five smooth stones to stop Goliath,” he said. “The law of the land in Texas says if someone is trying to take your life you can use deadly force.”

Here’s an interview the pastor did last year with KBMT-TV:

The pastor is hoping to help teachers learn the benefits of using firearms to ensure personal protection for both themselves and their students. If, indeed, educators choose to carry, McAbee wants them to be skilled and prepared. At his first session, 150 teachers showed up to take part and next month’s class is already closed out, showcasing intense demand. While he normally charges $50 per lesson, McAbee has waved those fees for teachers.

“They’re just filling up – boom, boom, boom,” the preacher added. “My phone is ringing all day long.”

Noting his belief that administrators and educators, alike, are scared for their safety following recent events, the preacher believes he’s simply doing his part. McAbee supports having armed guards in schools, but if that’s not possible, he believes the next best solution is putting guns in the hands of teachers.

“There should be a sign up in front of every school that says ‘Our teachers are armed to the teeth. You come here looking for trouble. It’s going to be returned to you,’” he told Starnes.

See the pastor performing his teacher gun training session here:

And as for those who might argue that a faith leader has no business being a gun enthusiast who teaches others how to use firearms, McAbee fervently disagrees, noting that the Bible validates the notion that people should protect themselves. The pastor puts his rhetoric to action, too, as he owns more than 20 weapons.

“Jesus asked his disciples if they had swords and when they said they didn’t, he told them to go out and buy one — for protection,” he said. “I think firearms are the modern-day swords.”

But McAbee also made it known that he’s not “the machine gun preacher” and that he simply seeks peace and to take care of those around them. While he’d rather avoid conflict, if a gunman comes knocking on the church doors or into his home, he’s prepared to protect himself. And that ability is something he wants for others in his community as well.

(H/T: Fox News’ Todd Starnes)

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Related:

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Comments (36)

Armed-Infidel
Posted on February 16, 2013 at 2:34pm
Praise God for Preachers like this guy !!!

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RamonPreston
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 8:37pm
As crazy as this country has become, teachers need to be armed and trained on how to use them.

What happened to the days when I grew up and you could walk the streets in safety?

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- PJ Smith in Texas
  Posted on February 13, 2013 at 12:20pm
  I went to high school in rural texas. MOST of the high school aged boys had a long gun in their truck or car, and parked it in the parking lot (dirt, but we knew it was student parking). They didn’t get stolen. Not a single one of them would have brought the thing inside the school, and would have thought you were nuts to suggest it. Nobody got shot or even threatened to be shot, even before during or after a fist fight.
  The guns ain’t the problem.
  
  Report this comment
Saff SGT
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 3:31pm
Hmm maybe America is on the way back to being normal Tx is leading the way and we are grateful to the real Americans down there. keep up the good work and shoot straight.

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Saff SGT
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 3:28pm
In all cases it is better to shoot back. That’s how America became great. lets not throw away our citizens defence from left Wing fear mongering

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moreteaplease
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 2:34pm
Godfather.1
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 1:17pm

And what happens when one of these “highly trained” teachers accidentally shoots a child? Or, is that just the price of your freedom?
—————————————————
Most likely would not happen since they would be HIGHLY TRAINED.

Sounds to me like you have something against freedom anyway. Must be a Liberal robot who can’t scratch your **** without a government regulation telling you how and when you can do it.

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- watashbuddyfriend
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 2:40pm
  Amen, Moretea!
  
  Report this comment
- Godfather.1
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 2:49pm
  And I’m sure you know about those “highly trained” police officers in New York City who shot NINE bystanders while trying to take the Empire State Building shooter.
  
  Do you think the “highly trained” teachers will be more capable than police officers?
  
  How about the genius who brought his gun to church and was showing it off only to have it discharge, go through the wall, and kill the pastor’s daughter? Guns really helped prevent a death that day, didn’t they?
  
  Report this comment
- Saff SGT
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 3:25pm
  chances are that the shooter will do more damage if we dont shoot back. This is the correct way to go. Collateral damage can happen lets hope it stays minimal. crooks and Nut shooters are on notice now
  
  Report this comment
- Stone Cold Truth
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 4:17pm
  When a mugger has a cold, shining blade to your closest loved one’s throat you’ll maybe see the positive benefit to possessing a gun. Well at least until he comes over and kills you too. There are going to be deaths and downsides to either position, pro gun or anti gun society. At least in pro gun society you err on the side of freedom and the ability to defend oneself.
  
  Report this comment
moreteaplease
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 2:01pm
RJJinGadsden
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:31pm

Gunny can play the part of the school principal.
———————————-
Now that would be cool :) Welcome to Jack Wagon High moron! BOOM!!!

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- DefyTYRANNY
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 9:53pm
  “You picked the wrong school”.
  
  Those gunny Glock pro gun commercial spots are awesome. They will likely never be seen other than on the internet unfortunately.
  
  Report this comment
Godfather.1
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 1:17pm
And what happens when one of these “highly trained” teachers accidentally shoots a child? Or, is that just the price of your freedom?

Better yet, why don’t we just arm teachers with rocket launchers and hand grenades. No one would dare go into a school then. Or, we could put chips in the kids and automatic guns on the doors. That way when someone without a chip walks through the door, the guns just shoot them. Obviously, because it would be automated, nothing could ever go wrong. That just goes without saying.

Oh I know, we should arm all the kids too. That would certainly ensure that no shooter ever dares go into a school.

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- Stoic one
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 1:22pm
  Using your logic I know how we can “SAVE” Fourteen Thousand lives a year:
  
  BAN ALL MOTOR VEHICLES
  
  Report this comment
- dont_drive_slow_in_the_left_lane_obliviot
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 1:39pm
  you’re so right. stick with the “gun-free zone” signs. that is obviously working so well.
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 2:04pm
  GODFATHER.1, What if? What if frogs had pockets? Then, they could carry .45s and wouldn’t be afraid of snakes.
  There is no perfect world, and never will be. We cannot wrap ourselves in heavy layers of bubble wrap and go about our lives. The best thing that we can do is to be careful, conduct our lives in a responsible manner, and remain vigilant by simply paying attention to what is actually going on around you.
  
  Report this comment
- xjeeper
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 2:22pm
  What happens when one of these “highly trained” bus drivers runs over a student? I am calling for federal bus free zones around our schools. You cannot count the children saved by armed teachers from the mass shooting that will never happen in the first place. If a child accidentally chokes at lunch should we ban lunch? Drug free zones have stopped all the drug use in the schools, but headaches and allergies have risen at an alarming rate. Really bad arguments, bad policies, and unconstitutional to top it off, but even without the 2nd amendment, gun control is unwise.
  
  Report this comment
- txgunhand
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 7:04pm
  now you are being childish
  
  Report this comment
- TERossi
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 7:37pm
  Another Liberal posting to remind us, “Yes! We really are this stupid!”
  
  Thank you.
  
  Report this comment
team1blazer
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:59pm
A well armed populace is a polite populace. Pray for peace, but be prepared for war.

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- Godfather.1
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 1:18pm
  That explains why so many people are killed by guns every year in the U.S., right?
  
  Report this comment
- Stoic one
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 1:25pm
  hey god… according to the world health organization the USA is #114 in gun violence. The other amazing factiod is the countries that have higher death rate: in all of them guns are ILLEGAL.
  
  Report this comment
- team1blazer
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 1:33pm
  If explains why gun free zones have become killing grounds. It explains why cities llike NYC, Chicago and L.A. have off the chart gun violence, because only the ciiminals have guns. Nice try, but your logic is a fail.
  
  Report this comment
- 4truth2all
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 1:37pm
  Yo godfather:
  
  The reason so many people are “murdered” is because they DO NOT abide to the rules of scripture.
  It’s called the corruption of the heart … a gun is an inanimate non thinking object …
  
  Report this comment
- GodNGunsPatriot
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 2:44pm
  godfather.1… How many people have died when gun control is implemented and tyranny takes over?
  Soviet Union: 36 Million
  China: 60 Million
  Nazi Germany: 13 Million
  Cambodia: 3 Million
  
  Report this comment
- Godfather.1
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 3:06pm
  @GodNGunsPatriot
  
  Because comparing the US to those countries is a really apt comparison, right? Maybe you should compare it to European and other developed countries that have implemented certain type of gun control, not purely dictatorships. And, before you say it, no, Obama is not a dictator as much as you wish he was.
  
  Finally, I never said anything about banning guns, just that it is a bad idea to have them in schools. I love how all of you make the completely reasonable jump from saying guns in school is a bad idea to “they’re going to take all our guns and turn this into Nazi/Communist/Socialist/Islamofascist Germany/Cambodia/Sorosistan.”
  
  Report this comment
- Stone Cold Truth
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 4:21pm
  It’s actaully not that big of a jump. You kind of come off that way.
  
  Report this comment
DukeUSA
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:57pm
A pastor’s job is to study and teach – study and teach – study and teach. This is a nothing but a distraction that keeps him from studying the Word. Do you wonder why the country is in chaos? Pastors are not even interested in teaching the Word of God. Christians are not interested in learning the Truth. As goes the believer in Christ – so goes the nation!

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- edotddot
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 2:09pm
  Many Pastors of small churches also have full time jobs. They have to in order to provide for themselves and their family. This Pastor happens to teach concealed carry permit classes and is obviously trained and licensed to do so. There is nothing immoral about keeping your family safe and teaching others to be able to do the same.
  
  Report this comment
- Saff SGT
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 3:33pm
  Hey cool it down God had David kill Goliath, nothing has changed except the times. get on the stick here and stop being a dumbo Left winger spreading fear mongering techniques
  
  Report this comment
Locked-n-Loaded
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:25pm
…and that is citizens taking care of their own country and communities, without government intervention!

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denkat56
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:24pm
Nothing better than a bad guys saying oh sh#$.

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Xanderson
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:19pm
Maybe Glock can make another ad in which a gun-wielding lunatic forces his way into an elementary school only to be met with a dozen teachers pointing their trusty Glocks right at his filthy mug. It would be sweet to hear “Gunny’s” voiceover stating…”looks like you picked the wrong school!”

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:31pm
  Gunny can play the part of the school principal.
  
  Report this comment
denkat56
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:17pm
Gun control is using both hands, always group your shots, fire or aim at the body or trunk of the criminal, and shoot to kill. It’ll save a lot on paperwork, and tax payers cost for courts and legal fee’s.

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DeavonReye
Posted on February 12, 2013 at 12:14pm
LOL . . . . @ 1:07 . . . . . a jamming Hi-Point pistol.

Good for him! I hope he gets people more properly trained in the use of handguns.

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