Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear plans to issue an executive order on Wednesday that confirms the state’s existing policy toward arming National Guard members.
The order comes nearly a week after five servicemen were shot to death in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Through the executive order, Governor Beshear will reiterate that Kentucky already has security procedures in place to protect guard members at armories, recruiting stations, and training facilities.
"We anticipated these kinds of possibilities, and some time ago, we already instituted the protections that states like Indiana and others just created," Beshear told WKU Public Radio.
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 have a state permit.
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.
