Armed civilians guard military recruiting centers: Is this what the Army wants?
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Shontee Pant Staff writer
Less than one week ago, Kuwait-born, naturalized American聽Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez opened fire on military recruiting centers in Tennessee, killing four Marines and a Navy sailor. While the Pentagon and Congress consider whether to arm military members on bases and at recruitment centers, armed civilians have begun to patrol military sites.
"I'm here to protect our military because they're not allowed to protect themselves," said Orlando Perez , in Rio Grande Valley, Texas. Like many others around the country, the Texan has decided to stand guard at a military recruiting center.聽
Many are asking聽if and where military service members should be allowed to carry weapons, and two legislators have already introduced a bill to address it.聽Rep. Duncan Hunter (R) of California Sen. Steve Daines (R) of Montana introduced the聽聽on Tuesday, to allow recruiters to be armed and to improve security at the centers where they work.
In the meantime, the Department of Defense prefers that the civilians not guard the military centers.
"While we greatly appreciate the support of the American public during this tragedy, we ask that citizens do not stand guard at our recruiting offices. Our continued public trust lies among our trained first responders for the safety of the communities where we live and work," said a 聽from the聽US Marine Corps of San Diego.
A Navy official 聽that if armed civilians appear at recruitment centers, recruiters聽will try to work from other locations.
"We are taking precautions to ensure everyone's safety and security, and we don't want the general public to come in and put themselves in any kind of danger,"聽said Sgt. Erica B. Kirsop in San Diego.
In light of the shootings, military recruiting has temporarily moved to local National Guard armories in Tennessee, under聽Governor Bill Haslam's The state鈥檚 Department of Safety and Homeland Security has also "streamlined the handgun permit application process for members of the military," according to the governor's . 聽
On Thursday, the Pentagon is briefing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey on recommendations for how to improve security at military centers, . He will then take these recommendations to Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter by Friday in order to inform national policy.
Meanwhile in Tennessee, "We are doing everything within our power to ensure that we maintain a safe working environment for these men and women, but it is imperative that we don't rush our analysis and do something that could possibly cause more problems," the state's Adjutant General Max Haston.
