Pfleger always travels with armed bodyguards when participating in protests. In 2014 Father Pfleger was criticized for attending an anti-gun rally while being protected by 3 or more armed bodyguards. On May 27, 2018 a member of his security detail was arrested outside St. Sabina when officers noticed him brandishing a pistol. Upon investigation, the officers discovered that the bodyguard, Eugene Hale, did not possess a Concealed Carry License and was not legally licensed to carry a weapon in public or even own a weapon due to not possessing a Firearm Owner Identification Card (FOID)