Reply #7: There are not enough mass shootings or surviving shooters...

[spin]

to gain insight into how concealed carry affects the planning of the deranged individuals who commit these crimes.

It's difficult for me to imagine planning an attack on a group of innocent people. But if I was suffering from a serious mental disorder but still was capable of some reasoning, I believe that I would avoid targets where I might encounter armed individuals. On the other hand, my anger might be directed at a church or a religion or a particular institution such as a school or college. In that case, I might ignore the threat.

If a shooter did enter a church where one or more worshipers were carrying weapons, there is a good chance that lives might be saved. At the minimum, the shooter wouldn't be able to just continue shooting people like ducks in a shooting gallery. He would have to concentrate on stopping the armed individual which at the minimum give other people a chance to flee.

While I rarely attend church, if I did I would carry my concealed weapon. Concealed carry in a church is not prohibited in Florida. I know one very religious individual who does carry in his church. (He carries everywhere that's legal.) If the pastor asked me not to carry or posted "no firearms" signs, I would find another church.

As far as the religious aspects of carrying weapons:

Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
Luke 22:36

edited to correct spelling