Protocols of Safety in Our Community

Three of our brothers were killed yesterday at the Islamic Center of San Diego. A security guard and two school staff members, shot down on the first day of Dhul Hijjah while the ummah around the world was preparing for Hajj. Two teenagers fueled by racial hatred walked onto the grounds of the largest mosque in San Diego and opened fire.

This is not the first time. It will not be the last time unless we get serious about protecting our houses of worship and the people inside them. The days of assuming someone else will handle it are over.

Here is what needs to happen.

A security guard that is properly and legally armed and vested with body armor is completely essential. Not a suggestion. A requirement.

Muslims need to be vigilant inside the masjid and outside in the parking lot, noticing anybody that is across the street with eyes on the masjid. Situational awareness is not paranoia. It is a responsibility.

There need to be designated plain clothes task teams that can lawfully and duly exercise the Second Amendment, which allows American citizens to arm themselves for defense. This is only for individuals that can lawfully operate and hold firearms legally.

This task force sits in plain clothes inside of Friday prayers as well as regular daily prayers. They pray after everybody else prays. This task force should not sit together and it should not be obvious that they are carrying a weapon.

Having a concealed weapons permit is essential, but check the laws on concealed carry permits and firearms in your state, because they vary.

Security should be sweeping the perimeter and checking for explosive devices, weapons caches, and keeping their eyes on anyone suspicious in their cars in the parking lot, across the street, or outside of their cars. Every entry point. Every blind spot. Every time.

Regular attendees of the mosque should follow their intuitions. If you think something is off, it probably is. If you see something or hear something, say something. Do not talk yourself out of what your gut is telling you.

There should also be, on the women’s side, women that lawfully carry and operate firearms legally under the Second Amendment if they are able to do so legally. The sisters are not exempt from this responsibility and they are not exempt from this protection.

A rigorous training regiment should be intact with all of the people mentioned above so nobody gets hurt. Carrying a firearm without consistent training is a liability, not a defense. Range time, situational drills, communication protocols, all of it.

The masjid is a house of Allah. We honor it by protecting it.

Get organized. Get trained. Get serious.