Gov. Abbott orders National Guard personnel to arm


TEXAS -- On Saturday, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the arming of National Guard personnel at military facilities across Texas in light of the recent fatal shooting in Tennessee on Thursday.

"It is with a heavy heart that I issue this order," Abbott said. "After the recent shooting in Chattanooga, it has become clear that our military personnel must have the ability to defend themselves against these types of attacks on our own soil."

According to partners at the Austin American-Statesman, current U.S. Defense Department policy allows only security and law enforcement officers to carry loaded weapons on military facilities outside of war zones.

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence authorized the arming of soldiers at Indiana National Guard facilities and recruiting sites statewide. Gov. Rick Scott of Florida ordered National Guard recruiters to work from an armory.

The governors of Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma have also taken similar action since the attack, according to the Statesman.

A navy officer and four Marines were killed in the shooting rampage at the U.S. Naval Reserve Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Hope they do it right, and it doesn't backfire. My son is a Marine, so I sure do sympathize with the worry. Every time I hear one of these stories on the radio I fear for him.

However, having people go on alert like this can lead to tragic mistakes, if not done in a measured way. And we have too many politicians trying to use tragedies for themselves, so I hope this guy is both sincere and knowledgeable about it all.

Unfortunate that it has to come to this but with events like this there are always copycats. Better to be safe than sorry.

Hopefully, the order was "armed AND equipped with ammunition".