Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 10 September 2025

These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters. 

In response to Annunciation Church shooting, State Senate working group on gun violence prevention for the first time

In response to the August 27^th shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, which killed two children and injured 21 others, Minnesota’s State Senate has convened a bipartisan Gun Violence Prevention Working Group for its first meeting. The meeting included tearful testimony from parents of victims who urged action on banning semiautomatic assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, among other reforms. Legislators laid out a slate of possible measures, including reinstating a binary trigger ban, safe-storage laws, requirements for serial numbers on firearms, mandatory firearm safety training, and potentially a new civil commitment division in the Attorney General’s Office.

Governor Tim Walz has pledged to call a special legislative session to consider these proposals, even though it is uncertain whether there are enough votes, particularly in the House, for stronger gun control laws.

Analyst Comments: The Minnesota Senate’s formation of a Gun Violence Prevention Working Group will work to address risk factors that can be tied to weapon lethality and traceability. Additionally, proposals for mental health intervention and specialized legal tools show a recognition of behavioral threats as precursors to violence. For community leaders, faith-based organizations, and schools the key takeaways is that preventive action at the local level remains essential regardless of legislative progress. Enhancing threat assessment processes, strengthening community awareness, and building connections between institutions can help mitigate risks.

Kash Patel to face grilling over Charlie Kirk investigation and his tenure as FBI director

At a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing, FBI Director Kash Patel faced sharp questions from Democrats over missteps in the Charlie Kirk case and concerns about politicization in the FBI. Patel defended his decision to publicly announce that a suspect was in custody early in the investigation, a claim he later had to retract when the individual was released following questioning. The suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, has since been linked to the killing via DNA evidence found on a towel around the rifle and on a screwdriver recovered from the rooftop from which the fatal shot was fired. Robinson allegedly had written a note before the attack expressing the intent to kill Kirk, and sent messages saying, “some hatred cannot be negotiated with”.

Analyst Comments: The congressional hearing on the assassination of Charlie Kirk highlights both the heightened political volatility in the U.S. and the challenges security agencies face in balancing transparency with accuracy during fast-moving investigations. The case shows how lone actors can exploit gaps in protective measures at public events, elevating risks for high-profile figures across the political spectrum. HOWs and other community organizations are encouraging to evaluate threat exposure not only by event size and visibility but also by the political and cultural profile of their leaders.

Tropical threat building in Atlantic: Multiple areas may develop starting this week

Meteorologists are closely watching several areas in the Atlantic basin that could develop into tropical storms or depressions starting this week. One system, a compact but intense storm, is forming off the coast of North Carolina. Although it may only have a short time to organize before it moves onshore, the system is expected to bring heavy rain, thunderstorms, rough surf, and possible coastal flooding from North Carolina up through New Jersey.

Further out, there is tropical wave drifting westward through the central Atlantic. It is moving into more favorable conditions, increasing its odds of developing into a tropical depression or even a named storm. Also being monitored is a broad area stretching from the western Caribbean toward the Gulf of Mexico; warm waters and increasing moisture there may allow development later in the month. If these systems strengthen, they could pose threats to coastal areas either through direct landfall or by producing hazardous weather like flooding and high surf.

Analyst Comments: The current Atlantic outlook shows the unpredictability of late-season tropical activity, with multiple systems forming nearly simultaneously in different regions. While some storms may remain weak or short-lived, even minimal organization near the U.S. coastline can trigger localized flooding, strong rip currents, and power outages.

How to Prepare:

• Stay updated on National Hurricane Center (NHC) advisories
• Review evacuation routes
• Avoid entering water when rip current advisories are in effect
• Conduct a readiness check
• Coordinate with local partners
• Assemble a storm kit

Enhancing K-12 Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management Practices: Proactive Approaches to School Safety

CISA will be holding a School Safety webinar on Thursday, October 16 from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. EDT for a virtual training on enhancing behavioral threat assessment and management (BTAM) practices in kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) schools.

Behavioral threat assessment is a critical component of school safety, helping to identify and address concerning behaviors before they escalate to crises. This session will explore how K-12 leaders can build and strengthen BTAM processes that promote early intervention and prevent school violence, especially when embedded within a comprehensive multi-tiered system of supports. A panel of experts will share strategies for forming an effective BTAM team, defining roles, and fostering collaboration among school staff, mental health professionals and law enforcement partners.

Event Details:

• When: October 16, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. EDT
• Where: Microsoft Teams Live (access link to be provided to registrants one day in advance of the event)
• Registration: K12ThreatAssessment.eventbrite.com