A man decided to stand guard outside a military recruitment office in Winchester, Va. Friday morning to make sure there isn't a repeat of the recent murder of four Marines in Chattanooga, Tenn.
The massacre has brought up discussions about the vulnerability of military recruitment centers. These centers, usually in public locations, are by law "gun free zones" -- meaning the military stationed there are not allowed to carry fire arms.
Absolutely not worried about another attack like Chattanooga at Winchester, the man in Winchester said he was there to make a statement. "People need to call their congressman, they need to call their senators and they need to change these laws that are on the books so these guys can protect themselves so a regular old citizen doesn't have to go out and do it," he told the Fox Network.
Asking to remain unidentified, he said what prompted him to action was the news about four Marines being killed by a terrorist in Tennessee. "Here we go again. It's fundamental Muslim extremism," he said. "They declared war on us and we seem to not put it in perspective and realizing that the war is here."
The military has been grateful for the symbolic support. "I went into each office, the ones that were open, and I was received with handshakes and thank you's," he said. "They constantly came by, and not only them, but their wives came by in tears thanking me for just being out here. They baked cookies for me and brought lunch by."
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin authorized the state's adjutant general to arm military personnel at certain military facilities on Friday in the wake of Thursday's deadly attacks in Chattanooga, The Blaze reported.
Rules state that one does not need a permit to openly carry guns in Virginia.
"The police already came by and checked me out, cleared my guns, doing their duty," the man said, explaining his position. "It was all good. We need to know what our rights are and not let anyone take them away. Too people died for these freedoms. I've never been in the military. I never served as law enforcement, but I certainly am grateful for those men and women who have died in past to secure those freedoms."
