Military Recruitment Center Security Scrutinized After Chattanooga Attack
BOSTON (CBS) - Some are calling for better security at military recruiting centers across the country after the Chattanooga tragedy.
By design, recruitment offices are open to the public, located on Main Street, in shopping centers and in strip malls. Weapons, even among military recruiters, are not permitted.
"Shopping centers, strip malls - they're all over this country – they don't have any security whatsoever," said Bill Gavin.
Gavin is the former assistant director of the FBI in New York. He says unlike on base, these unarmed military recruiters are now a very real, very soft target.
"Here are these military people standing, recruiting, getting like-kind to defend our country and they're not defended themselves," said Gavin.
ISIS activity prompted the U.S. military to increase the threat level at bases back in May, but some might argue recruiting centers aren't as secure as they could be.
"To continue to have them expose themselves to that kind of a danger from a maniacal, evil person is hard for most of us to swallow… I don't know the real answer yet, but I know there has to be some change made in order to protect these young people that are doing the best for their country," said Gavin.
A U.S. military spokesperson tells CBS News they are working to determine if adjustments should be made.