The Director of Safety at a church in California, Matt Montana, recently shared on the ‘Higher Ground With Billy Hallowell’ podcast that he’s collaborating with technology experts to develop a cutting-edge software capable of detecting firearms on the church premises.
Montana, who joined the church staff over three years ago after retiring from a career in law enforcement, explained the motivation behind this innovative initiative. He emphasized the need to address safety concerns within their community by harnessing technology to identify potential threats involving firearms within their church premises.
Montana is working in partnership with ZeroEyes, a company founded by former Navy SEALs, which specializes in what they describe as “human-verified proactive gun detection and situational awareness software.” This software is designed to seamlessly integrate with existing digital security cameras, with the ultimate mission of preventing mass shootings and gun-related violence.
Rob Huberty, the Chief Operating Officer and co-founder of ZeroEyes, revealed that the catalyst for creating this software was the tragic school shooting in Parkland. Huberty recounted how they saw a video in which the shooter brandished a gun in front of a camera and even interacted with another student.
This chilling incident prompted the realization that there was an opportunity to intervene and take action before such tragedies unfold. Montana, who spent 14 years of his career as part of an FBI international terrorism squad, passionately underscores the importance of proactive security measures within churches and similar institutions.
He acknowledges the unfortunate reality that there are individuals with harmful intentions, and while he advocates vigilance, he also stresses the importance of not succumbing to paranoia.
In sum, the church in California, under the leadership of Director Matt Montana, is actively exploring AI technology in collaboration with ZeroEyes to enhance their security measures. Their goal is to detect firearms on their premises using advanced software, with the aim of preventing potential acts of violence, particularly mass shootings.
