In the wake of Thursday’s deadly shooting at a community college in Oregon, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey is urging Christians to consider getting a handgun carry permit.

Officials say 26-year-old Chris Harper Mercer killed nine people and injured seven others before he was killed by police.

Survivors and their families say the killer asked people if they were Christians, but investigators have yet to determine the shooter’s motive.

Lt. Gov. Ramsey posted the following message on Facebook Friday morning:

“As I scroll through the news this morning I am saddened to read the details of the horrible tragedy in Oregon. My heart goes out to the citizens of Roseburg — especially the families and loved ones of those murdered. The recent spike in mass shootings across the nation is truly troubling. Whether the perpetrators are motivated by aggressive secularism, jihadist extremism or racial supremacy, their targets remain the same: Christians and defenders of the West. While this is not the time for widespread panic, it is a time to prepare. I would encourage my fellow Christians who are serious about their faith to think about getting a handgun carry permit. 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. Our enemies are armed. We must do likewise.”