Armed citizens guard military recruiting center in Tennessee
GALLATIN, Tenn. -- In the wake of the attacks at two military facilities in Chattanooga, Tennessee, some citizens are taking protecting military recruiting centers into their own hands.
The Gallatin News reports armed local citizens are guarding the Armed Forces Recruiting Center in Gallatin, Tennessee. The citizens say they are veterans and private citizens.
Five service members were killed in the Chattanooga shooting on July 16, which is suspected to have been carried out by about Mohammod Youssuf Abdulazeez, a 24-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen who was born in Kuwait.
Abdulazeez first opened fire at a military recruiting center in Chattanooga before traveling to another military facility a few miles away, where the four Marines and the gunman were killed. A fifth service member, Navy sailor Randall Smith, later died from injuries sustained during the attack.
The citizens in Gallatin tell the Gallatin News they will be there armed in front of the center until a law is passed to allow recruitment centers to be armed.
States across the country are increasing security at military centers in response to last week's shooting in Chattanooga. Currently, eight states allow their guards to be armed. Those states include: Indiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Texas, Utah and Florida.
Indiana Governor Mike Pence authorized National Guard troops in his state to carry weapons on base, reports CBS News correspondent Adriana Diaz. Pence says he sees no alternative after what happened in Chattanooga.
"I will not permit our citizen soldiers to remain unable to defend themselves," said Pence.
Indiana's policy is voluntary, so soldiers will not be forced to be armed.
On Tuesday morning, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker issued an executive order allowing members of the state's National Guard to carry weapons on duty, also citing security concerns raised by last week's deadly shooting.
"Safety must be our top priority, especially in light of the horrific attack in Chattanooga," Walker, a Republican running for president in 2016, explained in a statement. "Allowing our National Guard members to carry weapons while on duty gives them the tools they need to serve and protect our citizens, as well as themselves."