Gov. Phil Bryant issued an executive order Monday authorizing the Mississippi National Guard to arm full-time military personnel at military facilities, including National Guard recruiting centers.
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He also instructed Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons to assess the process for issuing handgun carry permits to trained members of the military and to look for ways to streamline it.
“It is unfortunate our servicemen and women must take these precautions on American soil”, Reeves said in a statement about arming Guard facilities. Governor Haslam will also work with the Tennessee congressional delegation on appropriate solutions at the federal level to secure military buildings.
Bentley asked Maj. Gen. Perry Smith, who is over the Alabama National Guard, to develop a plan that would allow Guardsmen to be armed to protect themselves and keep state citizens safe from danger.
Following the shooting incident, Military Times have reported that law enforcements have consequently invaded the house allegedly owned by Abdulazeez.
JULY 19: Vehicles flying American flags are seen as they arrive near the Armed Forces Career Center/National Guard Recruitment Office which had been shot up on July 19, 2015 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The attack prompted calls to allow military members to carry guns on bases in the hope that such a measure would stop prospective shooters from carrying out a similar attack. Thomas Sullivan (of Hampden, Massachusetts), U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Governors in at least a half-dozen states have authorized Guardsmen to be armed after a gunman killed four Marines and a sailor at a Navy-Marine reserve facility in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Elsewhere across the nation, civilians and off-duty law enforcement officers have stepped forward to guard recruiting centers with what are mostly symbolic shows of support.
Presently, only National Guardsmen who have security duties are armed on a regular basis. “MPD will be providing extra patrols at local recruiting offices and at military entrance gates”. Authorities have not released a motive.
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The Federal Bureau of Investigation is now investigating and is attempting to determine Abdulazeez’s motive for the shootings.
