Tennessee Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey (R) wrote Friday on Facebook that Christians who were serious about their faith should consider getting gun permits following the massacre at an Oregon community college.

Chris Harper Mercer shot and killed nine people and injured nine others before killing himself Thursday at Umpqua Community College. Victims of the shooting and their family members have told news outlets that the shooter asked his victims whether they were Christians before he shot them.

On Facebook, Ramsey reacted to the shooting by pointing to it as another example in which “Christians and defenders of the West” have been targeted.

He wrote that it was “time to prepare.”

“I would encourage my fellow Christians who are serious about their faith to think about getting a handgun carry permit,” he wrote. “I have always believed that it is better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have it.”

Here’s Ramsey’s full post:

h/t: Washington Post