The Pentagon is sticking by its existing policy of not supporting the arming of all military personnel — despite last week's bloodbath in Tennessee in which a lone gunman killed five servicemen,
CNN reports.
Defense spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis reiterated the policy during a Department of Defense briefing with reporters.
"We do not support arming all military personnel," Davis said, according to CNN.
That puts the agency at odds with many lawmakers and elected officials who want the policy changed. Military members are not allowed to be armed at recruitment centers under federal law.
Governors in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Indiana and Florida have ordered National Guardsmen to be armed.
In the Tennessee attack, four Marines and one Navy sailor were killed by Kuwaiti-born Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez.
Authorities say the killer opened fire at a military recruiting center in Chattanooga before driving to a nearby Navy Operational Support Center, where he shot and killed the Marines and the sailor.
Some private citizens with weapons permits have offered to help protect American military bases. But the U.S. Marines say thanks, but no thanks.
In a statement, the Marines said they "greatly appreciate the support of the American public during this tragedy."
But the corps added, "We ask that citizens do not stand guard at our recruiting offices. Our continued public trust lies among our trained first responders for the safety of the communities where we live and work."
Meanwhile, the NRA this week called for the re-arming of military personnel on domestic soil, citing the Chattanooga shooting deaths.
"It’s outrageous that members of our Armed Services have lost their lives because the government has forced them to be disarmed in the workplace," Chris Cox, executive director of NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action, said in a media statement.
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