Posted on Aug 10, 2015
If you were a Recruiter would this make you feel safer?
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Armed militia protecting recruiting station in strip mall
Armed militia members are standing outside some armed forces recruiting offices here in Iowa following the shooting last week in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
One location is at the strip mall in the 5900 block of East 14th Street in Des Moines. That's where KCCI found Iowa Militia member Kim Paulsen on Tuesday. The private group is composed of mainly former military members.
"I feel I need to be here, doing this," said Paulsen. (photo and FOIA attached)
He wants to be as visible as possible as he watches over the recruiting center.
The attacks in Tennessee on two recruiting centers left five service members dead.
Paulsen wants his presence to prevent such an attack here or to have the firepower to shoot back in the worst case scenario.
"To have someone throw lead at you and you not be able to throw it back just seems victim, reads victim," said Paulsen.
The Army veteran said it makes no sense to have military personnel manning the recruiting center unarmed.
"These guys should be able to be comfortable and not have to worry about what's behind the next car and that is why I am here. Until the governor or the president changes some regulations and these guys can have a weapon," said Paulsen.
Gov. Terry Branstad will be in Washington, D.C., Thursday for a meeting of the Council of Governors. The group advises federal officials on matters related to national security and the National Guard.
The Governor's Communications Director Jimmy Centers told KCCI that Branstad will seek support to review policies on National Guard bases, military installations and recruitment centers to ensure our nation's soldiers are safe.
"We need to have a discussion to make sure these brave men and women are protected. The governor is certainly not interested in ruling anything out," said Centers.
Paulsen said another recruiting center in Metro Des Moines is being watched by the Iowa Militia, but the person or persons watching it are not out in the open like he is.
Armed militia members are standing outside some armed forces recruiting offices here in Iowa following the shooting last week in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
One location is at the strip mall in the 5900 block of East 14th Street in Des Moines. That's where KCCI found Iowa Militia member Kim Paulsen on Tuesday. The private group is composed of mainly former military members.
"I feel I need to be here, doing this," said Paulsen. (photo and FOIA attached)
He wants to be as visible as possible as he watches over the recruiting center.
The attacks in Tennessee on two recruiting centers left five service members dead.
Paulsen wants his presence to prevent such an attack here or to have the firepower to shoot back in the worst case scenario.
"To have someone throw lead at you and you not be able to throw it back just seems victim, reads victim," said Paulsen.
The Army veteran said it makes no sense to have military personnel manning the recruiting center unarmed.
"These guys should be able to be comfortable and not have to worry about what's behind the next car and that is why I am here. Until the governor or the president changes some regulations and these guys can have a weapon," said Paulsen.
Gov. Terry Branstad will be in Washington, D.C., Thursday for a meeting of the Council of Governors. The group advises federal officials on matters related to national security and the National Guard.
The Governor's Communications Director Jimmy Centers told KCCI that Branstad will seek support to review policies on National Guard bases, military installations and recruitment centers to ensure our nation's soldiers are safe.
"We need to have a discussion to make sure these brave men and women are protected. The governor is certainly not interested in ruling anything out," said Centers.
Paulsen said another recruiting center in Metro Des Moines is being watched by the Iowa Militia, but the person or persons watching it are not out in the open like he is.
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Stolen Valor
Posted >1 y ago
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My first question would be "Are they qulified to be carrying a weapon?" To answer the question, NO!
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SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S.
Sgt Richard Buckner His NPRC FOIA says "who"? Why do you say he's a "Staff NCO"?
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SCPO David Lockwood
Sgt I didn't say they are not qualified to carry a weapon I asked if they were qualified. How well trained are the State Militia? Do they get the same training that the regular soldier gets? DO you believe they are trained equally to the regular soldier? I would say not.
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I'm thinking the bad guys will engage them first causing just enough delay for me to E&E out of harms way. Either way it goes I appreciate the effort.
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Generally, these folks would not make me feel safer. I think they are probably well-meaning but a lot of them are untrained*, or at least unprepared for what would happen in the event of a shooter. It is a law-enforcement type of situation, with an area full of innocent civilians, and property to damage. There are no universal rules of engagement or rules of force that they operate under, and I'm afraid that a lot of militia types are just seeing things in a tactical-response lens where they will be too quick to escalate. This opens the military and the government up to all sorts of legal hassles if they frighten people, or God forbid kill someone because he "looked shifty". All it takes is one hot-headed yahoo to make life hell. Too much of this, and recruiting centers will be "disinvited" from public malls.
*Yes, this guy is a veteran, but a veteran what? Special Forces or clerk? Why is he out? Is he really a vet, and what about everyone else on his team?
*Yes, this guy is a veteran, but a veteran what? Special Forces or clerk? Why is he out? Is he really a vet, and what about everyone else on his team?
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SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S.
SSG (Join to see) His FOIA NPRC says "who"? How do you find that he is a vet?
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SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S.
Here in Arizona, Governor Doug Ducey has authorized National Guard recruiters to arm themselves.
Here in Arizona, Governor Doug Ducey has authorized National Guard recruiters to arm themselves.
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While I respect the patriotism and support of these people to our military, I do not feel its safe or appropriate to have individuals or unofficial organizations do this. They don't have the appropriate training or consistent safety procedures. (Some vets may be very proficient but they would have to be verified, vetted and trained for the specific situation) Also a private group such as the Iowa Militia is not an official Title 32 state defense force; those groups should not be wearing anything that looks like an actual military uniform! Some of those groups have vigilante-type mentality and can be dangerous. Even if they are patriotic and support our flag and military, they can be very-anti-government.
I think it would be better to arm the recruiters directly themselves after they have gone through training, and perhaps have National Guard, properly trained OFFICIAL state defense force people, or local police help with security in higher risk areas. I also think recruiters should set up their offices so that while inviting, the recruiter wouldn't be physically in the line of fire behind the glass. Bulletproof glass might help, but might be expensive and impractical as recruiting offices temporarily rent private spaces and change locations a lot. I agree its a tough call to keep recruiters safe yet make it an inviting and welcome place for prospects.
I think it would be better to arm the recruiters directly themselves after they have gone through training, and perhaps have National Guard, properly trained OFFICIAL state defense force people, or local police help with security in higher risk areas. I also think recruiters should set up their offices so that while inviting, the recruiter wouldn't be physically in the line of fire behind the glass. Bulletproof glass might help, but might be expensive and impractical as recruiting offices temporarily rent private spaces and change locations a lot. I agree its a tough call to keep recruiters safe yet make it an inviting and welcome place for prospects.
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Suspended Profile
It is better than nothing, but I think we can trust recruiters to carry.
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While I appreciate the sentiment of these people, it should be up to us to defend ourselves, NOT the people who we are defending. And isn't this just fodder for the ISIS propaganda machine? I'd rather not give those people any more ammunition.
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