The question of whether members of the military should be allowed to arm themselves is getting more attention after last week’s shooting death of five service members in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The Chairmen of the House and Senate Armed Services committees say they are already working on legislation to clarify when a post commander may allow service members to be armed while on U.S. soil.
Illinois Democrat Dick Durbin believes members of the military should be allowed to protect themselves when they are functioning in uniform, and in an official capacity.
“I’m open to ways the military may suggest to do achieve that; mandating at some federal level that everyone carry a gun, or something like that, may go overboard,” Durbin said.
A 2013 shooting at the Washington Navy Yard left twelve civilian employees dead. In 2009, twelve service members were killed in a shooting at Fort Hood, Texas.
The attacks prompted questions of how to best protect individuals at domestic military facilities.
