Like many people across the country, seeing the images coming from Texas is not easy for the pastor of the Farmington Avenue Baptist Church in West Harford.
"It definitely hits home, especially when you hear of the ages," Jeremy Sweatt said.
The youngest killed by a gunman who sprayed the congregation with gunfire at the First Baptist Church in Southerland Springs, Texas, was an 18- month-old baby and the oldest victim was 77 years old.
Sweatt said there’s an open door policy at the Farmington Avenue Baptist Church, but these days, they’re having to be more cautious for their 150-member congregation.
"These events remind us that it is an ongoing conversation and we have to constantly stay vigilant. We are constantly updating, reviewing our procedures," Sweatt said.
The church also has a trained security team.
The pastor said they just want people to feel at home at the church: safe and at peace.
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Security is also on the mind of some residents, like Bonnie Horwitz.
"I feel unsettled today," Horwitz said. "(My son) said to me, 'What’s happening? How do you even stay safe?' And I was thinking more to myself, 'How do you even advise your children?'"
However, for Jacky Rittlinger, of Windsor, who was heading to see a movie, said she plans to just keep living life.
"I’m just going into this theater. I’m a movie buff actually and I’m going to see the 'Bad Mom’s' movie and I didn’t have any fear of that," Rittlinger told NBC Connecticut.
