"Texas Megachurch Shootings: Examining the Impact and Response"

A shooter opened fire at Joel Osteen’s megachurch in Houston, Texas, highlighting the ease of bringing weapons into sanctuaries in a state with few limits on gun possession. The incident is not the first of its kind in Texas, with previous shootings at places of worship including the Sutherland Springs and White Settlement churches. Texas gun laws do not require a license to carry a handgun or a rifle, and the state allows open carry. Churches are permitted to have volunteer security teams or hire security from law enforcement or licensed guards. The two off-duty officers who took down the shooter at Lakewood Church will be placed on administrative leave while their respective agencies investigate the shooting.