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Several US states order Guardsmen to be armed after Tenn. shootings

Florida Republican Governor Rick Scott

Governors in several US states have ordered National Guardsmen to be armed in the wake of fatal shootings at two military facilities in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott went a step further, issuing executive order Saturday for Guard recruiters at six storefront locations to be immediately relocated to armories.

He also ordered a review of security at Guard recruitment facilities, possibly installing bullet-proof glass or video surveillance equipment.

"We've got to understand that you know we have people in our country that want to harm the military," Scott said in an interview with CNN. "They need to be safe and they need to be armed."

In addition to Scott, governors in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Indiana ordered the Guardsmen to be armed.

Security at recruiting centers has come under scrutiny since a gunman attacked a US Navy facility and a Marine recruiting station in Chattanooga on Thursday, killing four Marines.

A fifth sailor died of his injuries in hospital, the Navy said in a statement on Saturday.

However, the Army's top officer, Gen. Ray Odierno, said it is too early to say whether the facilities should have added layers of security.

Federal authorities said Saturday the Tennessee attacks have not been linked to the ISIL terrorist group.

Investigators believe 24-year-old Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez acted alone when he attacked the military facilities on Thursday. He was killed in a firefight with police.

Republican Senator Ron Johnson, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said he plans to introduce legislation aimed at repealing bans on military personnel carrying firearms on military recruitment facilities and bases.


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