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J.D. Tuccille: After the Belleville attack, Jews face tough decisions about security

Synagogues face threats from bigots and roadblocks to safety from intrusive government officials

COTTONWOOD, Ariz. — The evening that a murderous antisemite opened fire outside a Yom Kippur service at the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, Ont., I guarded a synagogue in Sedona, Ariz., hoping to prevent exactly that sort of incident. Fortunately, my time was less eventful than that of Const. Jeff Smith, who was badly wounded while fighting the attacker. But I spent the evening with a pistol and pepper spray on my hip and an AR-15 in reach while sweating under body armour because attacks like the one in Belleville have become all too common around the world. And while those gathered at Sons of Jacob were lucky to have Smith in place to defend them, most institutions need to look to their own safety.

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Inside the Sedona synagogue, my wife and several other members of the congregation carried concealed firearms of their own in case my efforts proved inadequate. Like me, most of them are graduates of a well-regarded private Arizona school that offers firearms training to civilians, police officers and members of the military. Several of us have received additional training and we all practice our skills.

J.D. Tuccille: After the Belleville attack, Jews face tough decisions about security Back to video

Columnist Jesse Kline keeps you up to date with what’s happening in Israel and the effects of antisemitism on life here in Canada. Friday mornings.

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