Malloy: Connecticut won’t arm National Guardsmen

Multiple states across U.S. are looking at changes

Hartford — In response to the recent attack on two Tennessee military facilities, multiple states across the country are considering arming their National Guardsmen — but Connecticut isn’t one of them.

A statement from Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s office to The Day on Tuesday said: “This was a tragedy and right now our thoughts are with the victims and their families. The Governor doesn’t believe that this is the best way to address the situation.”

On Monday, the governor ordered that flags be flown at half- staff in honor of the four U.S. Marines and the U.S. Navy petty officer slain in the Chattanooga, Tenn., shootings.

Flags were originally to remain at half- staff until sunset on Tuesday, but Malloy’s office announced Tuesday afternoon, in accordance with a proclamation from President Barack Obama, that U. S. and state flags should continue flying at half-staff through sunset on July 25.

In Missouri, Republican lawmakers have asked Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon to arm the National Guard. Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, a Republican, is asking the state’s National Guard to review security at its facilities in the state.

In South Carolina, Republican Gov. Nikki Haley has authorized review teams to all National Guard recruiting stations, armories and installations to then designate armed officers based on vulnerability.

The governors of Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas, Indiana, Oklahoma and Nebraska have ordered guardsmen to be armed, and several of them have called specifically for

guardsmen to be armed at their state recruiting centers.

In Connecticut, National Guard recruiting centers are all on federally leased property paid for with federal dollars, according to Capt. Mike Petersen, director of public affairs for the Connecticut National Guard, who said that the CTNG recruits from 21 locations.

In a statement, Maj. Gen. Thad Martin, adjutant general of the Connecticut National Guard, said: “While we do not publicly discuss our security protocols, we have in place a system of varied force protection measures in which we have the highest confidence. We constantly monitor and review these ongoing force protection measures for adequacy and applicability to the current threat. We do not believe we need to make changes to our system at the current time.”