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The U.S. Army has sent out a warning to its recruiting centers around the nation about civilians who’ve voluntarily taken up arms to patrol the sites, saying: these people could be threats.
The Stars and Stripes reported the development has come in the wake of the deadly shooting of four Marines and one Navy sailor at the Navy Operational Support Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Because those on military property cannot carry their personal weapons, civilians have since taken up arms to patrol outside the facilities. Among the sites civilians are now patrolling are recruiting centers in Wisconsin, Georgia, Tennessee, Idaho and Michigan.
“We’re just out here paying it forward, basically. I mean, they work for us 24/7, so I figure it couldn’t hurt to donate a few hours of our time to make sure they get safe,” Brandon McNeilly of Tennessee told CNN affiliate WATE-TV.
Members of the Michigan Open Carry group are “standing guard” with their weapons outside the Howell Armed Forces Recruiting Center in solidarity for the five “great American warriors” slain in Chattanooga.
“We’re here to show the young military, who are all volunteers, we support you and we love you,” G.R. Dinius, a Vietnam War veteran, told the Livingston Daily. “Thanks a lot to you warriors. We’re proud of you.”
The U.S. Army Recruiting Command sent around a policy letter saying these civilians could very well be security threats.
“I’m sure the citizens mean well but we cannot assume this in every case and we do not want to advocate this behavior,” said Army Command Operations Center-Security Division’s letter, the Stars and Stripes reported.
Recruiters were advised to keep away from the civilians and not interact with them.
“If questioned by these alleged concerned citizens, be polite, professional and terminate the conversation immediately and report the incident to local law enforcement,” the letter went on. “Ensure your recruiters clearly articulate to local police the civilian may be armed and in possession of a conceal/carry permit.”
Kelli Bland, a spokeswoman for Army Recruiting Command, said civilians can best help the military by reporting suspicious behaviors to the police.
A Navy official told CNN that should unauthorized armed civilians attempt to patrol outside a Navy recruiting center, recruitment personnel would try to work elsewhere. They could choose to spend the day at a school, mall, on travel or other duties that would keep them away from the center.
In a statement Tuesday, the U.S. Marine Corps said, “While we greatly appreciate the support of the American public during this tragedy, we ask that citizens do not stand guard at our recruiting offices. Our continued public trust lies among our trained first responders for the safety of the communities where we live and work.”
“I’m here to protect our military because they’re not allowed to protect themselves,” Texan Orlando Perez told CNN affiliate KRGV-TV. “Until they are allowed to carry, I will be out here to help them understand that somebody is watching them.”
