Who should take the lead in protecting houses of worship from threats like the Idaho plot?

Alexander Scott Mercurio, 21, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, was sentenced to 18 years in prison and lifetime supervised release after his conviction for supporting the Islamic State and planning attacks on Idaho churches. According to the Justice Department, he planned to take his father’s firearms and use them alongside explosives, knives and other weapons in a mass-casualty attack. The FBI arrested Mercurio on April 6, 2024, one day before the planned attack; federal officials said protecting communities from terrorism and safeguarding religious freedom were priorities.