Gov. Rick Scott is making protecting the military a priority in the wake of a shooting in Tennessee which left four Marines and a sailor dead last week.The governor ordered the temporary relocation of National Guard members from six “storefront” recruitment centers to armories through an executive order issued over the weekend.
On Thursday, an armed gunman shot several members of the military in a shooting rampage at a Navy reserves facility in Chattanooga. The attack took place at two different military buildings.
Scott pointed to the shooting and planned terrorism attacks by ISIS as some reasons why he was issuing the executive order.
As part of the order, Scott ordered Florida Adjutant General Michael Calhoun to not only temporarily relocate National Guardsmen, but to keep them in armories until Calhoun can “fully evaluate” and make recommendations for the security of the recruitment centers.
The order also demands regular security checks for Florida National Guard armories. Beyond that, it will expedite the process for getting concealed weapons permits for National Guard members.
The executive order will put firearms in the hands of the military. As part of the order, Florida will provide for the “provision of arms” for full-time Florida Guardsmen who don’t have their own weapon issued to them. The state will also ramp up the process for members needing new concealed weapons permits.
The order gathered substantial support from some of the state’s top conservatives, including House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, who commended Scott for his commitment to the military.
“I strongly support @FLGovScott’s executive order to help protect our military from acts of terror,” he tweeted.
Some Floridians across the state, too, gave Scott a thumbs-up for the order, which is one of the first of its kind in Florida history.
“I'm glad we kept you in office @FLGovScott,” read a tweet posted on Twitter Saturday. “Thanks for today's executive order.”
National Rifle Association past president and lobbyist Marion Hammer told Sunshine State News the order made a lot of sense for protecting the nation’s servicemen and women while they’re on home turf.
“Basically, what it does is recognize that there’s a problem and that we can’t put our men and women of the military in gun-free zones and make them vulnerable to attack,” Hammer said. “It is patently ridiculous that we train our military personnel in the use of firearms and send them overseas to protect our nation and our freedom, and to take away their ability to protect themselves when they come home is nonsense. … Making our military bases and establishments a gun-free zone makes it a kill zone for criminals.”
Hammer gave Scott a thumbs-up for his executive order, and says she hopes the governor will look deeper into protecting members of the military.
I applaud the governor for his action and I look forward to seeing some of the other things that can be done to provide their safety in the future,” she said. “Hopefully this governor, along with other governors, can do something on the national level to stop attacks on military bases by arming our servicemen and women so they can protect themselves and others.
Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, who is most well-known for being the primary sponsor behind Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, said he, too, was glad Scott took action.
“What has happened has again demonstrated the danger of gun-free zones,” he told SSN. “They do create a sterile target for those that would do violence. I hope that we move in a direction that we allow soldiers to be armed and prepared to stop violence rather than be the victims of violence.”
Baxley added it was simply the reality that terrorist groups like ISIS had already set foot on American soil.
“ISIS has come to America ... whether it’s formally or whether it’s through the inspiration of individuals, it’s here,” he explained.
As for putting guns in the hands of military men and women?
“I wouldn’t have any problem with every member of the U.S. military having open carry,” said Baxley. “I trust them. It’s a greater risk not having them prepared.”
Reach Tampa-based reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen
