US General: Some Recruiting Station Soldiers Should Be Armed

People have come out in states that include Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona and Georgia to guard the centers, which were designated as gun-free zones under a Department of Defense directive, the Associated Press reported.

Robbie Redcross is one of those citizens. Heightened security around the Crown Point Indiana Marines recruiting center is largely obvious, but some may not notice an armed Marine veteran nearby on a self-defined mission.

Kayyem explained that this is why recruiting offices are often in shopping malls: That’s where people are. “I’ll be honest with you, and I’m not one to say this much, but I sat and cried in my shop when I heard it”, Wiloughby said.

“What happened last Thursday is a direct result of our military here at home not being able to arm themselves”, said McIntire.

A local Army veteran decided he wanted to do something to support military recruiters, so he began standing outside the center Monday.

“They’re sitting ducks”, said a man who identified himself only as Zack.

Fitzpatrick said he won’t leave until changes are made.

“While we greatly appreciate the support of the American public during this tragedy, we ask that citizens do no stand guard at our recruiting office”. Milley, who has served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, also said that fielding joint terminal attack controllers and USA advisors directly with Iraqi troops “should be seriously considered”. “They are the most patriotic people in the United States”.

And the Huntsville volunteers have been well-received.

Area residents also began stopping by to chat, thank the volunteers and drop off water.

They planted themselves outside of the Armed Forces Career Center in Lewiston on Wednesday.

Donnie Knapp, a retired Army Master Sergeant, was seated outside the Military recruiting offices “looking out for his brothers” he said, armed with a sidearm handgun and an M-4 assault rifle.

“So we’re out here to make sure they remain safe”, Krol said. Other states, including Alabama, New York and Illinois, stepped up security at recruitment centers. They would not identify themselves but said they were not military veterans. He feels a responsibility to help his comrades and says he will stand guard one day for each hero lost in Tennessee. “But somebody needs to be out here to show they care”. Four Marines and a sailor were killed at the operations center. “We will look at every avenue-arming them, there is some authority issues with that so we have to look all the way through that”.

It’s the response from locals that have caught these men by surprise as word began to spread that they were protecting the recruiting office. “We are here to defend anyone here”, said Fitzpatrick.