Boustany urges Secretary of Defense to arm personnel at military service centers

Following the recent shooting at a Marine recruiting office in Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA) signed a letter to Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, urging him to arm personnel serving at military service centers.

“Our men and women in uniform face danger in combat all over the globe,” Boustany said. “No one anticipated the tragic attack last week in Chattanooga – and it cost good men their lives. My colleagues and I want to give our military men and women serving stateside the capacity to defend themselves against terrorist attacks should the need arise.”

The letter cited not only the shooting, but other domestic terrorist attacks and threats from ISIS on the U.S. military.

 “We request you take immediate steps to allow our military personnel to be armed at these facilities,” the letter stated. “Since ISIS has declared war on the U.S. military, it is time we allow our service men and women to be armed to defend themselves. As we have learned from these attacks, soft targets like recruiting centers are at risk, and in these instances there were signs that read “gun-free zone.”

Four Marines and a sailor were killed in last week’s shooting.

“Again, with a direct and specific threat from ISIS to attack American military facilities, it is vital that the Department immediately institute measures to protect our service members and interests at home and abroad,” the letter concluded. “We would be glad to meet with you to discuss this matter but I encourage you to act immediately.”