Anish Vij
A pastor who was robbed of a reported $1m (£840,000) at gunpoint during his sermon wants all priests to start carrying guns.
The live-streamed event which occurred last month (24 July) involved 44-year-old Lamor Whitehead, whose jewellery was stolen by masked thieves.
The clip shows Whitehead asking: "How many of you have lost your faith because you saw somebody else die?" just before the gunmen entered the Brooklyn church.
The items stolen reportedly included a $75,000 Rolex, a $25,000 Episcopal ruby and a $25,000 pair of earrings.
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Police said: "Three unknown individuals entered location displayed firearms and removed jewellery."
Well, Pastor Whitehead has now come out and said that priests in the US should be able to carry guns in the same way 'teachers' do.
“They need to pass a law expeditiously that pastors of houses of worship—anyone on the ecclesiastical staff—need to be able to have permits for firearms,” Whitehead said of lawmakers.
“If the teachers can have [a gun], we should be able to have it.”
In a press conference, the 44-year-old added: "I’m calling on every elected official that has power to protect houses of worship.
"We need protection. We need you to sympathise with us.
"We don’t get the luxury of having firearms.
"All we’re asking is help us protect ourselves.
"Pass a law where we can carry our firearms, because this gun violence has gone to a new level."
A reporter asked New York City Mayor Eric Adams if 'clergy should get a special dispensation when it comes to gun permits'.
Adams simply replied: "No," and added: "No one in this city should be the victim of armed robbery, let alone our faith leaders and congregants.
"Police continue to investigate and will work tirelessly to bring the criminals involved to justice."
Shortly after the incident took place, Whitehead said on Instagram: "When I see them come into the sanctuary with their guns, I told everybody [to] get down, everybody just get down," he later said on Instagram.
"I didn't know if they wanted to shoot the church up or if they were just coming for a robbery."
He added: "For you to kick in a church door and come with guns in the middle of service - what God is gonna do to y'all is above my paygrade."
Whitehead is offering a $50,000 reward for any information which could lead to an arrest.
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