Posted on Jul 30, 2015
Pentagon will allow more troops to be armed following Chattanooga attack. Your thoughts?
3.47K
25
10
6
6
0
Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter will allow more U.S. troops to be armed while stateside and called for other security measures to be put in place following the attack in Chattanooga, Tenn., that killed five service members.
The decision was outlined in a two-page memo released at the Pentagon on Thursday. Carter in the memo said the ambush, in which an armed gunman opened fire at two military facilities, illustrates the threat posed to the service members in the United States by homegrown violent extremists.
“This incident and the ongoing threat underscore the need for DoD to revise its force protection and security policies, programs, and procedures, particularly for off-installation DoD facilities,” Carter said in the memo, signed Wednesday.
The secretary’s decision comes after a review in which each of the services was directed to submit recommendations on how it would bolster security following the shooting. Carter called for it amid an outcry — and proposed legislation from several congressional lawmakers — to better protect service members working in small, unguarded facilities like the recruiting station and naval reserve center attacked in Tennessee.
Carter’s memo authorizes commanders and civilian directors to “arm qualified DoD personnel for security, law enforcement and counterintelligence duties.” But it adds that those who are not engaged in law enforcement, such as military police, also may be armed “based on the threat and the immediate need to protect DoD assets and lives.”
Read more at ...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/07/30/defense-secretary-will-allow-more-troops-to-be-armed-following-chattanooga-attack/?hpid=z5
The decision was outlined in a two-page memo released at the Pentagon on Thursday. Carter in the memo said the ambush, in which an armed gunman opened fire at two military facilities, illustrates the threat posed to the service members in the United States by homegrown violent extremists.
“This incident and the ongoing threat underscore the need for DoD to revise its force protection and security policies, programs, and procedures, particularly for off-installation DoD facilities,” Carter said in the memo, signed Wednesday.
The secretary’s decision comes after a review in which each of the services was directed to submit recommendations on how it would bolster security following the shooting. Carter called for it amid an outcry — and proposed legislation from several congressional lawmakers — to better protect service members working in small, unguarded facilities like the recruiting station and naval reserve center attacked in Tennessee.
Carter’s memo authorizes commanders and civilian directors to “arm qualified DoD personnel for security, law enforcement and counterintelligence duties.” But it adds that those who are not engaged in law enforcement, such as military police, also may be armed “based on the threat and the immediate need to protect DoD assets and lives.”
Read more at ...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/07/30/defense-secretary-will-allow-more-troops-to-be-armed-following-chattanooga-attack/?hpid=z5
DoD
Self Defense
Weapons
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
3
3
0
Just a thought--but shouldn't the recruiters themselves be armed since they are very high profile military and just on the qualifications of their job be proficient in the use of firearms?
(3)
(0)
PO1 John Miller
SSgt Terry P.
You would think so, but I've seen recruiters who I wouldn't trust with a stick let alone a firearm.
You would think so, but I've seen recruiters who I wouldn't trust with a stick let alone a firearm.
(1)
(0)
2
2
0
This just falls into line with what I believe anyways, everyone (who is of sound mind and not off the wall insane) should have access to a firearm for self defense. Lets not forget that it is a constitutional right, no matter how politicians may want to make it look.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
I certainly hope so. I work in many countries in Africa where the officers and Sr. NCOs are armed all the time. If they can trust their servicemen then we certainly can too.
(2)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google