NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee’s lieutenant governor is encouraging his “fellow Christians” to consider getting a handgun carry permit after a gunman killed nine people at a local community college in southern Oregon.

A witness told authorities the gunman demanded his victims state their religion before he started shooting Thursday.

In a Facebook posting on Friday, Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey encouraged “Christians who are serious about their faith to think about getting a handgun carry permit.”

The Blountville Republican went on to say he believes “it is better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have it.”

Ramsey provided a link on how to get a handgun permit in Tennessee at the end of his posting.

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