Christians should consider arming themselves, Tennessee’s Senate Speaker says in response to Thursday’s shooting at a community college in Oregon. Ron Ramsey says armed enemies are targeting Christians, and they should respond by keeping guns close at hand.

Ramsey posted the
brief statement Friday morning on Facebook. He links to a story that claims the Roseburg, Oregon, shooter singled out Christians as he rampaged through Umpqua Community College.

He calls the shooting and others like it “troubling.” Ramsey blames aggressive secularism, jihadist extremism and racial supremacy for the violence. Ramsey goes on to say that Christians shouldn’t panic, but they should prepare by getting a handgun carry permit, even offering a
link to begin the process.

“I have always believed that it is better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have it,” he writes. “Our enemies are armed. We must do likewise.”

A spokesman for Ramsey said the speaker was unavailable to discuss the posting because he’s preparing for a church fundraiser back home in Northeast Tennessee.