State Rep. Danny Crawford, R-Athens, can remember a time when churches didn’t keep their doors locked. He acknowledged Friday times have changed, however.

Crawford recently dropped House Bill 472, which would provide for the justification of the use of deadly force on the premises of a church or church-owned property. The bill, if passed by the Legislature, would be similar to the state’s existing “stand your ground” law.

State Rep. Lynn Greer, R-Rogersville, has introduced similar legislation in the past that would have allowed churches such protection statewide. Crawford’s bill would apply only to Limestone County churches, meaning it has a good chance of getting through the full Legislature.

Greer is a co-sponsor on Crawford’s bill, as are State Reps. Andy Whitt, R-Huntsville and Parker Moore, R-Decatur.

The bill states a person may use deadly physical force and is legally justified in using deadly force in self-defense or in the defense of another person if an aggressor is “about to use physical force against an employee, volunteer, member of a church, or any other person authorized to be on the premises of the church when the church is open or closed to the public while committing or attempting to commit a crime involving death, serious physical injury, robbery in the first degree or kidnapping in the first degree.”

The bill, if signed into law, would protect the person who stands his or her ground and make them immune from criminal prosecution or civil action, “unless the force was determined to be unlawful.”

Crawford said the bill should provide peace of mind to church security staffs in Limestone County. He added many large churches such as Lindsay Lane Baptist Church have full-time armed security, but most acts of violence occur at smaller churches.

Because the bill would apply to properties that are extensions of churches, private Christian schools such as Lindsay Lane Christian Academy would enjoy the same protections.

“I think our church community needs our assurance,” Crawford said.