Gov. Scott Walker on Tuesday authorized members of the Wisconsin National Guard to carry weapons on duty, making his state at least the seventh to take that step after the attack on two military facilities in Tennessee last week.
“Allowing our National Guard members to carry weapons while on duty gives them the tools they need to serve and protect our citizens as well as themselves,” Walker, a Republican and presidential candidate, said in a statement.
The governors of Arkansas, Indiana, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas, all Republicans, have already announced plans to arm Guardsmen.
Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez killed four Marines and a sailor last week when he opened fire on a military recruiting station and a Navy and Marines reserve center in Chattanooga.
Gov. Bill Haslam of Tennessee has ordered a review of the weapons rules at military facilities in his state.
The federal military has ordered increased security at recruiting stations and reserve centers. Those measures have not been spelled out, but two defense officials told NBC News on Monday that they will not include arming recruiters.
The Army chief of staff told reporters after the Chattanooga attack that there would be legal problems with taking such a step, and that it would also raise the rise of accidental shootings.