You may recall our blog from last week about citizens standing guard outside a military recruitment center in Georgia. Since then, those who’ve stepped up to do what the Feds refuse to have increased exponentially. Armed citizens, many who are trained former military, have been spotted all over the nation following the terrorist attack in Chattanooga that took the lives of five brave servicemen, and they’ve received overwhelming thanks. Well, the Army has now addressed the growing trend. From The Washington Free Beacon:

The Army has told its recruiters that the armed citizens showing up outside recruiting offices in the wake of the recent attack in Chattanooga, Tennessee, should be considered threats and reported to local police.

“I’m sure the citizens mean well, but we cannot assume this in every case and we do not want to advocate this behavior,” according to the Army Command Operations Center-Security Division letter obtained by Stars and Stripes.

“Ensure your recruiters clearly articulate to local police the civilian may be armed and in possession of a conceal/carry permit.”

A number of the armed citizens standing guard outside recruiting centers told reporters they were there to protect the recruiters since the military requires they be disarmed at work. “They’re sitting ducks,” the founder and president of Oath Keepers, which has asked its members to guard recruiting centers, Stewart Rhodes told the Associated Press on Tuesday. “They’d be better off if they were walking down the streets of Baghdad, because at least in Baghdad, they could move. Here, they’re stationary.”

Here’s the Army’s full letter as posted to the blog, This Ain’t Hell:

Subject: USAREC Policy – Armed citizens at recruiting centers ATO’s,

Situation: The USAREC COC has received reports from two Brigade ATOs, social media and TV coverage that law abiding armed citizens are standing outside of our recruiting centers in an attempt to safeguard our recruiters.

Execution:

1) Recruiters will not acknowledge the presence or interact with these civilians. If questioned by these alleged concerned citizens; be polite, professional, and terminate the conversation immediately and report the incident to local law enforcement and complete USAREC Form 958 IAW USAREC 190-4 (SIR)

2) Do not automatically assume these concerned citizens are there to help.
Immediately report IAW USAREC 190-4 (Suspicious Behavior)

3) Immediately report any civilians loitering near the Station/Center to local police if the recruiter feels threatened. Ensure your recruiters’ clearly articulate to local police the civilian may be armed and in possession of a conceal/carry permit. Ensure recruiters include any information provided by local police in their SIR reporting the incident.

4) Ensure all station commanders implement FPCON Charlie 6 (Lock and secure entry points) addressed in previous email.

5) I’m sure the citizens mean well, but we cannot assume this in every case and we do not want to advocate this behavior.

*** The timely and accurate submission of 958s (SIR) is imperative to track these incidents and elicit support from TRADOC, ARNORTH and NORTHCOM.

Similar statements have been issued by other recruitment centers.

So while The Powers That Be sit around twiddling their collective thumbs while they “consider” “allowing” our brave, highly-trained men and women to arm themselves while on U.S. soil in the face of an increasing threat of Islamic jihadists specifically targeting them, We The People wasted no time in rushing to their defense. In response, those who’ve placed themselves between our unarmed military members and would-be terrorists, exercising their Second Amendment freedoms, are considered threats themselves. But then again, these are the same people who’ve told our warriors not to wear their uniforms in public, and to simply close the blinds to avert another jihadist attack on our nation.

Dana Loesch interviewed USMC Staff Sgt Johnny “Joey” Jones on armed citizens guarding recruitment centers.

I think Marcus Luttrell said it best:

Just heard something about telling Marines not to wear their uniforms at the recruiting centers for their own safety…?! I have to tell y’all I laughed out loud, if anyone thinks for one second a Marine is gonna take his uniform off because he cares about his safety or is scared of some shitbag walking in off the street and trying this again (WRONG) that’s not gonna happen, that’s not how we respond in the military when we get hit, we don’t take off our uniforms, drop our weps and run. Also you can outfit every recruiting station w/ firearms, grenades or a F.,?!ing tank, this goes down again and there is a good chance you’ll find the person beaten to death by the water cooler or stapler … The bullets will be the last of you[r] problems. Think on it. RIP brothers, your families will miss you, the country will mourn you, and those still wearing the uniform will never forget you.

Txfrog

Spot on. I wonder if the Big Wigs would consider Luttrell a threat if he showed up at a military recruitment center armed and ready to do what they won’t. I think I know the answer. After all, Barack Obama is still CIC.

Could would-be jihadists take advantage of the growing trend of civilians guarding gun-free military recruitment centers? It’s a fair question. So here’s an idea: Arm them. Then those among us who’ve taken it upon ourselves to protect them might not feel the need to do so in the first place.