Butler County lawmaker hires security for pro-life fundraiser, cites Texas church shooting

State Rep. Candice Keller, R-Middletown, who is also the executive director of the Community Pregnancy Center, has hired security to work her pro-life fundraiser this week. She said Sunday’s mass shooting in Texas prompted her to make the decision, though officials have said the shooting wasn’t related to religion. STAFF FILE PHOTO

State Rep. Candice Keller, R-Middletown, who is also the executive director of the Community Pregnancy Center, has hired security to work her pro-life fundraiser this week. She said Sunday’s mass shooting in Texas prompted her to make the decision, though officials have said the shooting wasn’t related to religion. STAFF FILE PHOTO
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Nov 6, 2017
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Citing Sunday’s mass shooting in Texas, State Rep. Candice Keller, R-Middletown, who is also executive director of the Community Pregnancy Center, said she has hired Butler County Sheriff’s deputies to work security at her pro-life fundraiser this week in West Chester Twp.

“That’s the times we live in,” said Keller, adding this is the first time she has hired security for such an event.

MORE: Butler County pastors, police urge churches to create safety plan

When she woke up Monday, Keller said she felt “a quiet concern” for the country because of the recent violence.

Texas officials Monday did not give a motive for the shooting that left at least 26 people dead and 20 others injured, but said there had been a “domestic situation” between the shooter — 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley — and his mother-in-law before the massacre.

“We know that he expressed anger towards his mother-in-law who was in this church,” Texas Department of Public Safety regional director Freeman Martin said during a press conference.

ExploreMORE: Trump says Texas church shooting result of ‘mental health problem,’ not guns

Martin said the shooting wasn’t related to race or religion.

Officials have previously said Kelley had no apparent links to terrorist groups.

Keller said she carries a weapon and she’s typically escorted to public functions and her own church by armed officers.

“I look over my shoulder a lot more,” she said. “You can’t live in fear, but this is a sobering time.”

ExploreMORE: More local churches debating whether to allow guns
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