Pentagon Urges Citizens to Stop Guarding Recruitment Offices

Jim Labriola

After the July 16th tragedy in Chattanooga, citizens were showing up at recruitment offices to stand guard protecting those who protect us.

Locally, Jim Labriola, who played Benny on the hit show “Home Improvement” has been standing guard at the Army-Navy recruitment office in Franklin.  His first tweet on July 22nd states, “Spent all day standing guard at an Army Navy career center. If they can protect us we can protect them.”

Labriola, Brentwood resident, has been at the office everyday and was joined on July 24th by Gary Chapman and his wife Cassie Chapman. See the WKRN report here.

On Friday, the Pentagon spokesperson, Peter Cook issued a statement,

While we greatly appreciate the outpouring of support for our recruiters from the American public, we ask that individuals not stand guard at recruiting offices as it could adversely impact our mission, and potentially create unintended security risks,” Cook said. “We continue to partner with and rely on first responders for the safety of the communities where our service members live and work.”

 

Legislation has been proposed by U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn., and other U.S. House members from Tennessee which would require the Pentagon to develop a new policy requiring the designation of properly trained soldiers carrying military-issue firearms to go armed.

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