Walker issues order to arm Wisconsin National Guard

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) on Tuesday issued an executive order to arm the National Guard in his state in the wake of an attack in Chattanooga, Tenn., that left five service members dead.

The GOP presidential candidate directed Maj. Gen. Donald Dunbar, Wisconsin’s adjutant general, to arm certain National Guard personnel in the state “as reasonably necessary” to preserve lives, property and their security.

Walker said in his order that attacks are becoming more common and “every precaution must be taken to ensure that our servicemen and women are protect from possible future attacks.”

Wisconsin joins a handful of states that have moved to allow certain National Guard personnel to carry weapons following shootings at two military sites that are being investigated as domestic terrorism.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, another GOP presidential candidate, was among those governors calling to arm their state’s guardsmen. Meanwhile, lawmakers have called for a broader change in Pentagon policy governing domestic military sites.

In the day following last Thursday’s deadly shooting, Walker called for an end to a ban on service members being allow to carry guns at military recruitment offices, according to The Associated Press.

Flags at the U.S. Capitol were lowered to half staff on Tuesday in memory of the four Marines and one sailor who were killed.