Gov. Steve Beshear says state law already allowsKentucky National Guard members to carry weapons while on duty.
The issue is at the forefront followinglast week’s shooting deaths of four Marines and a sailor in Chattanooga, Tenn.
In an executive order issued Wednesday, Beshear re-iterated the state’s current policy.
“We allow our on-duty Guard men and women to carry weapons as authorized by their commanders and we also have a policy allowing these folks to have concealed deadly weapons through the concealed carry process,” said Beshear.
Before the Chattanooga shootings, Kentucky already allowed Guard members to carry weapons while on duty with approval from their commanding officer. In addition, Guard members are allowed to carry concealed weapons as long as they go through the conceal carry process. While Governor Beshear is confident of the measures already in place, his executive order instructs Kentucky’s adjutant general to take whatever steps he feels are needed to secure military facilities.
“We anticipated these kinds of possibilities and some time ago and already instituted the protection that states like Indiana and others have just created," said Beshear.
The governor’s order directs Kentucky’s Adjutant General, Edward Tonini, to take any other steps he feels necessary to keep service members safe.