Pistol-packing preacher.(Exercising The Right)

The Reverend Phillip Mielke is pastor of the Big Lake Community Chapel in Big Lake, Alaska. Concerned about security at the church, Rev. Mielke installed baby monitors linking the building to a bedroom in his home across the road and motion detectors that ring a chime and turn on a light in the church.

Shortly alter 4 a.m. on April 24, the pastor was awakened by a thumping noise over the intercom. He was not unduly concerned, since there had been periodic false alarms caused by passing cars, a heater, and even Christmas lights banging against the side of the building. As usual, however, he armed himself with a .44-caliber handgun--for which he had a conceal-carry permit--before investigating the disturbance.

As Rev. Mielke approached the building, he noticed that an empty car was idling near the parking lot and that the church's back door was ajar. Upon entering the building, he heard voices emanating from the basement. Rev. Mielke shouted over the intercom to his wife, Helen, urging her to call 911, but she did not hear him. Moments later, two men charged up the basement stairs toward him.

Unsure whether the intruders meant to harm him or merely to escape, Rev. Mielke ordered them to stop. When they did not, he fired twice. From the time he raised his gun to the moment he opened fire, the thieves apparently began turning around, as both were struck in the back. After they fell into a doorway leading to an outside deck, one collapsed and yelled, "I've been shot," but then rose and staggered from the building. Rev. Mielke saw the other man running toward the idling car and fired several additional shots at him. One bullet apparently struck the man in a foot. Despite his wounds, however, he managed to climb into the vehicle and speed away.

Mielke phoned 911 from the church. When state troopers arrived, they found Chris Palmer lying dead on a nearby road. He had been shot in the lower ...