Ben Carson Compares Screening Refugees to Checking for 'Rabid Dogs'

Mobile, Alabama -- Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson compared the need to screen refugees to protecting a child from a "rabid dog" at an event in Alabama today.

“For instance if there’s a rabid dog running around the neighborhood, probably not going to assume something good about that dog and you’re going to want to put your children away,” Carson said in response to an ABC News question regarding whether Christian organizations should be helping refugees.

He continued: "At the same time, I love dogs and I’m going to call the humane society and hopefully they can take this dog away and create a safe environment once again.”

Carson told ABC News that refugee screening mechanisms will help determine “the mad dogs.”

"At the same token, we have to have them trace screening mechanisms that allow us to determine who the mad dogs -- who are the people who want to come in here and hurt us and destroy us,” Carson said. “Until we know how to do that, just like it would be foolish to put your child out knowing that was going on."

The discussion of whether the U.S. should take in 10,000 Syrian refugees has intensified following the terrorist attacks in Paris last Friday. Carson's view is in line with the other GOP candidates who have opposed taking in Syrian refugees. Earlier this week Carson called on Congress to defund federal programs seeking to resettle Syrian refugees.