Scott Walker moves to arm Wisconsin National Guard
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker issued an executive order Tuesday allowing members of the state's National Guard to carry weapons on duty, citing security concerns raised by last week's deadly shooting at military sites in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
"Safety must be our top priority, especially in light of the horrific attack in Chattanooga," Walker, a Republican running for president in 2016, explained in a statement. "Allowing our National Guard members to carry weapons while on duty gives them the tools they need to serve and protect our citizens, as well as themselves."
The governor added that he's directing the Adjutant General of the Wisconsin National Guard, Donald Dunbar, to "evaluate longer-term plans to ensure the safety of our service members."
At least seven other states - Indiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Utah and Florida - have moved to allow National Guard members to arm themselves in the wake of last week's tragedy.
Four Marines were killed in the shooting on July 16, which was apparently carried out by Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, a 24-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen who was born in Kuwait.
Abdulazeez first opened fire at a military recruiting center in Chattanooga before traveling to another military facility a few miles away, where the four Marines and the gunman were killed. A fifth service member, Randall Smith, later died from injuries sustained during the attack.