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SALT LAKE CITY — In light of the shooting rampage in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has ordered the Utah National Guard to look at more ways to protect its troops.
On Saturday, Herbert announced that he had instructed Utah National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Jeff Burton to "explore additional ways to protect our men and women serving in the armed forces."
About a year ago, Utah policy was changed to allow soldiers to carry weapons in National Guard facilities.
"Unfortunately, there are those in our society who specifically target military personnel when seeking to do harm," Hebert said in a prepared statement. "We must do everything in our power to protect these men and women, and I am pleased that Utah has an existing policy in place that allows the members of our National Guard to be properly armed."
Five people were killed in an attack at the Navy Operational Support Center in Chattanooga on Thursday. Four marines were killed immediately. Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez is accused of shooting a total of seven people before being shot and killed by police.
Herbert was not the only governor who called for increases in security at National Guard and military facilities. Texas, Florida, Oklahoma and Indiana have also ordered additional security measures be taken in their states.
