LANSING, Mich. — Saturday's shooting at a synagogue in Poway, California affected more than just the community there.
"[I'm] very upset that this keeps happening in our society," said Rabbi Michael Zimmerman of Kehillat Israel.
David Mittleman is a member of two local synagogues and he says both have increased safety measures.
"We have had training from the Ingham County Sheriff's Department, East Lansing Police Department on things that we can do to protect us.," said Mittleman.
Michigan State Police have a program to train congregations on what to look for and how to create an emergency plan.
Lieutenant Darren Green says any religious organization that wants to participate should call their local MSP post.
"Look for bulges, look for odd behavior, people that aren't familiar who might be new to your congregation so you can approach them and talk to them just to kind of get an initial reaction," said Lieutenant Green.
Rabbi Zimmerman says part of the problem is our nation's gun laws need to be drastically changed.
"I respect people's rights to hunt. I respect people's rights to protect themselves, but that doesn't mean that we can enable easy availability from people who are endangering and, God forbid, taking all to often the lives of innocent children and people of faith trying to pray in their own ways," said Rabbi Zimmerman.
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